• IPA: /əˈpɒl.ə.dʒi/

apology (plural apologies)

1. An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry).

   What he said really hurt my feelings, but his apology sounded so sincere that I couldn't help but forgive him.

   The CEO made a public apology for the scandal, and promised full cooperation with the authorities.

2. A formal justification, defence.

   The Apology of Socrates.

   Synonyms: apologia

3. Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.

   a poor apology for a hotel room

   • 1852 March – 1853 September​, Charles Dickens, chapter 20, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, OCLC 999756093 ↗:

     [He] goes to work devising apologies for window curtains.

• French: excuse
• German: Entschuldigung
• Italian: apologia, scuse
• Low German: Entschülligunge (Paderbornisch)
• Portuguese: desculpa
• Russian: извине́ние
• Spanish: disculpa

• French: apologie
• German: Apologie
• Italian: apologia
• Portuguese: apologia
• Russian: оправда́ние
• Spanish: disculpa, excusa