apology
Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
a·pol·o·gy
(ə-pŏl′ə-jē)n. pl. a·pol·o·gies
1. An acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense: Please accept my apology for being so late.
2.
a. A formal justification or defense.
b. An explanation or excuse: "The consequence of those measures will be the best apology for my conduct" (Daniel Defoe).
3. An inferior substitute: The sagging cot was a poor apology for a bed.
[Latin apologia, from Greek apologiā : apo-, apo- + logos, speech; see leg- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: apology, apologia, defense, justification
These nouns denote a statement that excuses or defends something, such as a past action or a policy: Their arguments amounted to an apology for capital punishment. The senators' apologia explained why they changed their position. We produced evidence in defense of the policy. Reducing energy costs was our main justification for replacing the windows.
These nouns denote a statement that excuses or defends something, such as a past action or a policy: Their arguments amounted to an apology for capital punishment. The senators' apologia explained why they changed their position. We produced evidence in defense of the policy. Reducing energy costs was our main justification for replacing the windows.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
apology
(əˈpɒlədʒɪ)n, pl -gies
1. an oral or written expression of regret or contrition for a fault or failing
2. a poor substitute or offering
3. another word for apologia
[C16: from Old French apologie, from Late Latin apologia, from Greek: a verbal defence, from apo- + logos speech]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
a•pol•o•gy
(əˈpɒl ə dʒi)n., pl. -gies.
1. an expression of regret for having committed an error or rudeness.
2. a defense or justification of a cause or doctrine.
3. an inferior substitute; makeshift.
[1400–50; late Middle English apologe (< Middle French) < Late Latin apologia < Greek]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | apology - an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone; "he wrote a letter of apology to the hostess" acknowledgement, acknowledgment - a statement acknowledging something or someone; "she must have seen him but she gave no sign of acknowledgment"; "the preface contained an acknowledgment of those who had helped her" |
2. | apology - a formal written defense of something you believe in strongly vindication, defense, defence - the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory" | |
3. | apology - a poor example; "it was an apology for a meal"; "a poor excuse for an automobile" example, instance, illustration, representative - an item of information that is typical of a class or group; "this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome"; "there is an example on page 10" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
apology
noun regret, explanation, excuse, confession, extenuation We received a letter of apology.
apology for something or someone mockery of, excuse for, imitation of, caricature of, travesty of, poor substitute for What an apology for a leader!
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
apology
noun1. A statement of acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon:
2. A statement that justifies or defends something, such as a past action or policy:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
إعْتِذاراِعْتِذاردفاع
omluva
undskyldningforsvar
anteeksipyyntöpahoittelupuolustuspuolustuskirjoitus
isprika
bocsánatkérés
afsökun
侘び詫び
사과
atsiprasau
opravičilo
ursäkt
คำขอโทษ
lời xin lỗi
apology
[əˈpɒlədʒɪ] N1. (= expression of regret) → disculpa f
letter of apology → carta f de disculpa
I demand an apology → exijo una disculpa
to make or offer an apology → disculparse, presentar sus excusas (for por) to make no apology or apologies for sth → no tener reparo en algo
I make no apologies for being blunt → no tengo ningún reparo en serle franco
please accept my apologies → le ruego me disculpe
I owe you an apology → te debo una disculpa
to send an apology (at meeting) → presentar sus excusas
there are apologies from Gerry and Jane → se han excusado Gerry y Jane
letter of apology → carta f de disculpa
I demand an apology → exijo una disculpa
to make or offer an apology → disculparse, presentar sus excusas (for por) to make no apology or apologies for sth → no tener reparo en algo
I make no apologies for being blunt → no tengo ningún reparo en serle franco
please accept my apologies → le ruego me disculpe
I owe you an apology → te debo una disculpa
to send an apology (at meeting) → presentar sus excusas
there are apologies from Gerry and Jane → se han excusado Gerry y Jane
2. (Literat) → apología f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
apology
[əˈpɒlədʒi] n (= expression of regret) → excuses fplto send one's apologies → envoyer une lettre d'excuse, s'excuser (de ne pas pouvoir venir)
please accept my apologies → vous voudrez bien m'excuser
to make an apology → s'excuser
to make sb an apology, to make an apology to sb → s'excuser auprès de qn
to make one's apologies, to offer one's apologies → présenter ses excuses
to make no apologies for sth
I make no apologies for what I said → Je ne cherche pas à défendre ce que j'ai dit.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
apology
n
(= expression of regret) → Entschuldigung f; to make or offer somebody an apology → jdn um Verzeihung bitten; to make or offer one’s apologies → sich entschuldigen; Mr Jones sends his apologies → Herr Jones lässt sich entschuldigen; I owe you an apology → ich muss dich um Verzeihung bitten; are there any apologies? → lässt sich jemand entschuldigen?; I make no apology or apologies for the fact that … → ich entschuldige mich nicht dafür, dass …
(= poor substitute) → trauriges or armseliges Exemplar (→ for +gen); an apology for a breakfast → ein armseliges Frühstück
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
apology
[əˈpɒlədʒɪ] n → scuse fplI demand an apology → esigo delle scuse
please accept my apologies → la prego di accettare le mie scuse
an apology for a lunch (pej) → un tentativo mal riuscito di pranzo
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
apologize,
apologise
(əˈpolədʒaiz) verb to say that one is sorry, for having done something wrong, for a fault etc. I must apologize to her for my rudeness.
aˌpoloˈgetic (-ˈdʒetik) adjective showing regret or saying one is sorry for having done something wrong etc. an apologetic letter.
aˌpoloˈgetically adverbaˈpology – plural aˈpologies – noun
Please accept my apology for not arriving on time; He made his apologies for not attending the meeting.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
apology
→ اِعْتِذار omluva undskyldning Entschuldigung συγγνώμη disculpa anteeksipyyntö excuses isprika scuse 詫び 사과 verontschuldiging unnskyldning przeprosiny desculpa извинение ursäkt คำขอโทษ özür lời xin lỗi 道歉Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009