apology
[noun]
Synonyms:
- defence, acknowledgment, confession, excuse, explanation, justification, plea
- an apology for: mockery, caricature, excuse, imitation, travesty

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Contrasted words: blame, censure, condemnation, decrial, reprehension, reprobation
Related Idioms: pleading one's cause, putting in a good word for, speaking up for
Related Words: excuse, extenuation, mitigation, palliation, advocating, advocation, championing, espousal, espousing, support, amends, atonement, acknowledgment, admission, concession, confession, mea culpa, reparation, redress, satisfaction

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

a‧pol‧o‧gy S3 /əˈpɒlədʒi $ əˈpɑː-/ noun (plural apologies)
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: apologia 'written or spoken defense', from Greek, from apo- ( ⇒ apocalypse) + logos 'speech']

1. [uncountable and countable] something that you say or write to show that you are sorry for doing something wrong
apology for
The minister had to issue a formal public apology for his remarks.
apology from
She finally received an apology from the company.
apology to
an apology to passengers for any inconvenience caused

2. apologies [plural] a message that you send to a meeting to say that you will not be able to come to the meeting:
Edward can’t be here today, but he sends his apologies.

3. make your apologies to say that you are sorry but you have to leave:
I quickly made my apologies and left.

4. make no apology for something to not say that you are sorry for something, because you do not regret it and you think it is the right thing to do:
We make no apology for defending our members’ interests – that is our job.

5. [countable] literary a statement in which you defend something you believe in after it has been criticized by other people
apology for
an apology for Christianity

6. an apology for something a very bad example of something:
They served us up an apology for a meal.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

apology
noun
ADJ. abject, humble, profuse It was a mistake. My profuse apologies.
heartfelt, profound, sincere | full | formal | public | written
VERB + APOLOGY convey, give sb, issue, make, offer (sb), publish, send (sb) The newpaper has issued an apology to the minister.
get, receive | demand, deserve, expect We expect a full written apology.
owe sb She certainly owes you an apology.
mumble, murmur, mutter John muttered an apology then went back to his book.
accept Please accept my sincere apologies.
reject She rejected my apology, saying it was not enough.
PREP. without ~ He backed out arrogantly and without apology.
~ for an apology for arriving late
~ from Apologies have been received from the Browns.
~ to my apologies to your wife
PHRASES a letter of apology, make no apology/apologies for I make no apologies for bringing this issue to your attention once again.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

apology

make an apology
I hope you are going to make an apology.
issue an apology (=make an official public apology)
North Korea issued an official apology for the incident.
get/receive an apology
He received a formal apology from the company.
offer an apology
We would like to offer our sincere apologies for the delay.
accept sb’s apology
Please accept my apologies for having to cancel our meeting.
demand an apology
China continued to demand a full apology from the US.
owe somebody an apology
I’m afraid I owe you an apology.
publish an apology (=print it in a newspaper)
The newspaper group was forced to publish a full apology.
mumble/mutter an apology (=say it quietly, especially because you are embarrassed)
He bumped into me and mumbled an apology.
my sincere/profound apologies (=used when you feel very sorry )
Firstly, my sincere apologies for not having contacted you earlier.
‘I have been guilty of making some insensitive remarks,’ said Wright, who offered his profound apologies to everyone concerned.
a public apology
The authorities published a public apology in the newspaper.
a formal apology
Russia is demanding a formal apology.
an official apology
The company has made an official apology and is offering compensation.
a written apology
The police sent a written apology to the family.
a full apology
The Prime Minister made a full apology in the House of Commons.
an abject apology formal (=one that shows that you are very sorry)
The BBC issued an abject apology for insulting the Queen.
profuse apologies formal (=when someone says that they are sorry several times )
Moira telephoned with profuse apologies for the misunderstanding.
a letter of apology
We agreed to write a letter of apology.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲