1. a regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure: "we owe you an apology"Similarexpression of regretone's regretsamende honorableinformal:apolsbeg-pardon
▪ used to express formally one's regret at being unable to attend a meeting or social function: "apologies for absence were received from Miss Brown"
2. a very poor or inadequate example of: "we were shown into an apology for a bedroom"Similartravesty ofexcuse forinadequate example ofpoor imitation ofpoor substitute forpale shadow ofmockery ofcaricature of
3. a reasoned argument or writing in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine:"a specious apology for capitalism"Similardefenseapologiajustificationvindication
Word Originmid 16th century (denoting a formal defense against an accusation): from French apologie, or via late Latin from Greek apologia ‘a speech in one's own defense’, from apo ‘away’ + -logia (see -logy).
