apology

Etymology

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

noun

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.
3. Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.
   a poor apology for a hotel room
   The response to firing is remarkable, and though the 280 lb. pressure seems more in the nature of a reserve for emergencies than a continuous working figure, even with the present-day apology for coal it seldom fell below 250 lb., and could always be brought up to blowing-off point with little difficulty. To this liveliness of steaming the thermic syphons are doubtless the chief contributory. 1947 January and February, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 39