apology

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A statement saying that you are sorry for something you have done.

   His apology sounded so sincere that I forgave him at once.

2. 2
   noun

   A formal defence of a belief or position.

   The book is a passionate apology for democracy.

3. 3
   noun

   A very poor example of something.

   That sad little sandwich was an apology for a meal.

From French apologie, from Late Latin apologia, from Ancient Greek ἀπολογία (apología, “a speech in defence”), from ἀπολογοῦμαι (apologoûmai, “I speak in my defense”), from ἀπόλογος (apólogos, “an account, story”), from ἀπό (apó, “from, off”) (see apo-) + λόγος (lógos, “speech”). Doublet of apologia. By surface analysis, apo- + -logy.

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