apologetic

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /əˌpɑləˈdʒɛtɪk/ UK /əˌpɒləˈdʒɛtɪk/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
expressing or showing regret; offered in defence of something

She gave an apologetic smile for arriving late.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · expressing or showing... contrite regretful remorseful sorry penitent

Opposites

unrepentant defiantunapologetic

Word family

Derived forms apologetically apologetics

Related forms apology apologize apologia apologist

Etymology

From Greek apologētikos ('suited for defense'), from apologeisthai ('to speak in defense'), from apo- ('from') + logos ('speech').

apologētikós Ancient Greek lógos Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# apologetic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /əˌpɑləˈdʒɛtɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /əˌpɒləˈdʒɛtɪk/

## Meanings
1. expressing or showing regret; offered in defence of something

## Examples
- She gave an apologetic smile for arriving late.

## Synonyms
- contrite
- regretful
- remorseful
- sorry
- penitent

## Antonyms
- unrepentant
- defiant
- unapologetic

## Derived Forms
- apologetically
- apologetics

## Related Forms
- apology
- apologize
- apologia
- apologist

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: apologētikós
- Root: lógos

## Etymology
From Greek apologētikos ('suited for defense'), from apologeisthai ('to speak in defense'), from apo- ('from') + logos ('speech').

## AI Etymology
Apologetic is an adjective meaning "expressing or showing regret; offered in defence of something". Historically, it is from Greek apologētikos ('suited for defense'), from apologeisthai ('to speak in defense'), from apo- ('from') + logos ('speech'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: apologetic is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Ancient Greek apologētikós with Ancient Greek lógos. Close English family members include apologetically, apologetics, apology, apologize, and apologia.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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