APOLOGY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does apology mean? 

• APOLOGY (noun)
  The noun APOLOGY has 3 senses:

1. an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone

2. a formal written defense of something you believe in strongly

3. a poor example

  Familiarity information: APOLOGY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• APOLOGY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

he wrote a letter of apology to the hostess

Hypernyms ("apology" is a kind of...):

acknowledgement; acknowledgment (a statement acknowledging something or someone)

Derivation:

apologetic (offering or expressing apology)

apologise (acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing)

apologise (defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning)

apologize (acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A formal written defense of something you believe in strongly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

apologia; apology

Hypernyms ("apology" is a kind of...):

defence; defense; vindication (the justification for some act or belief)

Derivation:

apologetic (offering or expressing apology)

apologise (defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning)

apologist (a person who argues to defend or justify some policy or institution)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A poor example

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

apology; excuse

Context example:

a poor excuse for an automobile

Hypernyms ("apology" is a kind of...):

example; illustration; instance; representative (an item of information that is typical of a class or group)

 Context examples 

“When a person's umble, you know, what's an apology? So easy! I say! I suppose,” with a jerk, “you have sometimes plucked a pear before it was ripe, Master Copperfield?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

With an apology for my remissness, I went into my own room to get the papers from my bag.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A formal apology will make him see how foolish he is, and bring him down quite amiable.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

And she only wanted to know how far, after what had passed, an apology might properly be received by her.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Mr Elliot had attempted no apology, and shewn himself as unsolicitous of being longer noticed by the family, as Sir Walter considered him unworthy of it: all acquaintance between them had ceased.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

It was not until he had received his apology that our touchy friend would suffer himself to be appeased.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He had deigned an explanation, almost an apology, and I did not feel insensible to his condescension, and would not seem so.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“I owe you an apology,” he said, raising his golden pince-nez to his eyes.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When asked how they would feel when put in this position themselves, those people shown a rejection containing an apology reported higher feelings of hurt.

(Sometimes You Shouldn't Say Sorry, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

One after another the rest followed his example, each making a salute as he passed, each adding some apology.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)