What does apologize mean?
To apologize is to express regret for a fault, mistake, or offense, usually by acknowledging wrongdoing and offering sorrow directly to the person affected. The word functions as a verb and is most commonly used with the prepositions 'to' (identifying who is being addressed) and 'for' (specifying what went wrong), as in 'she apologized to her colleague for the delay'. Although it carries no inherent formality, an apology is often expected in professional, diplomatic, and personal contexts where trust has been damaged, and phrases like 'sincerely apologize' or 'apologize profusely' signal varying degrees of contrition. Interestingly, the word's ancestor, the Greek 'apologia', originally meant a formal speech in defence of one's conduct — closer to justification than remorse — before shifting toward its modern sense of admitting fault. Today, knowing how to apologize well is widely regarded as an essential social skill, one that can repair relationships and restore credibility after mistakes.
To express regret for a fault, mistake, or offense, typically by saying sorry to the person affected.
"He apologized sincerely for forgetting her birthday."
Usually takes the prepositions 'to' (recipient) and 'for' (cause).
To make a formal defense or justification of a belief, action, or position.
"In his essay he apologized for the controversial policy, arguing it was necessary at the time."
This older sense is now rare and largely historical.
The word 'apologize' originally meant the opposite of saying sorry — an 'apology' was once a formal defense of your actions, not an admission of wrongdoing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of apologize
The word apologize derives from the Greek 'apologia', meaning 'a speech in defence of' someone or something, which passed into Latin and then into French before entering English in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. Its earliest English sense was therefore defensive rather than remorseful — an 'apology' was a reasoned justification of one's beliefs or conduct, a meaning still visible in the term 'apologist'. Over time the word's emphasis shifted from defending oneself to expressing regret for wrongdoing, giving rise to the modern verb we use today. Cognate terms sharing this Greek root include apology, apologetic, apologist, and apologia.
Related word forms
How apologize is actually used
In British English the standard spelling is 'apologise', while American English uses 'apologize'; both are pronounced identically. The verb is typically followed by 'to' (the person wronged) and/or 'for' (the offense). A sincere apology is generally expected to acknowledge specific harm rather than merely express regret in general terms.
Easily confused with apologize
Apologise is simply the British English spelling of the same word; apologize is the American spelling — they mean exactly the same thing.