What does apologise mean?
To apologise is to acknowledge that one has done something wrong and to express regret for it, usually directly to the person affected. The word is a verb and carries a connotation of taking responsibility rather than merely feeling sorry privately; a genuine apology typically names the fault, expresses remorse, and may ask for forgiveness. In British, Irish, Australian, and most non-North-American English, it is spelled 'apologise', while American English writes 'apologize'; the two forms are otherwise identical in sound and sense. Usage ranges from the everyday — apologising for lateness or a forgotten appointment — to the formal and public, as when companies or public figures issue statements apologising for serious errors. Common collocations include 'apologise profusely', 'sincerely apologise', and 'apologise unreservedly'. The word's ancestry is striking: it derives from the Greek 'apologia', which in classical usage meant a formal defence offered in answer to a charge, so the modern act of admitting fault has roots in an ancient practice of defending oneself.
verbTo express regret for a fault, mistake, or wrongdoing, typically acknowledging one's responsibility and often asking forgiveness. It is the standard British English spelling of what is written 'apologize' in American English.
- To express regret and acknowledge fault for a mistake, offence, or wrongdoing, whether formally or informally.
- (By extension) To make amends or seek forgiveness through such an expression of regret.
"She called that evening to apologise for missing the meeting."
"He rang the doorbell and apologised for arriving two hours late."
"The company issued a statement apologising unreservedly to its customers for the data breach."
The word descends from the Greek 'apologia', which originally meant not an expression of regret but a formal speech in one's own defence — so an apology was once something you gave to avoid blame, not to admit it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of apologise
'Apologise' comes from the Greek 'apologia', meaning 'a speech in defence', formed from 'apo-' ('away from') and 'logos' ('speech, reason'). The term passed into Latin and then into English via French, entering English in its noun form 'apology' in the late Middle Ages; the verb form developed later, becoming established by the early modern period. Cognates sharing the same Greek root include 'apologetic', 'apologist', and 'apologetics'. The shift in meaning from 'a defence against accusation' to 'an expression of regret' occurred gradually over the word's history in English.
Related word forms
How apologise is actually used
'Apologise' is the standard spelling in British English, Irish English, Australian English, and most other varieties outside North America; American English uses 'apologize'. The verb is typically followed by a prepositional phrase ('apologise to someone for something') and ranges in register from casual everyday speech to highly formal public statements.
Easily confused with apologise
'Apologise' and 'apologize' are the same word with identical pronunciation and meaning; '-ise' is the standard British spelling while '-ize' is the standard American spelling.