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Definition of apology noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

apology

noun
 
 
/əˈpɒlədʒi/
 
/əˈpɑːlədʒi/
(plural apologies)
Idioms
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  1.  
    [countable, uncountable] apology (to somebody) (for something) a word or statement saying sorry for something that has been done wrong or that causes a problem
    • to offer/make/demand/accept an apology
    • You owe him an apology for what you said.
    • We should like to offer our apologies for the delay to your flight today.
    • We received a letter of apology.
    Extra Examples
    • Please accept my sincere apologies.
    • She rejected my apology, saying it was not enough.
    • John muttered an apology then went back to his book.
    • I make no apologies for bringing this issue to your attention once again.
    • If anyone has been offended, I extend my sincere apologies.
    • It was a mistake. My profuse apologies.
    • He backed out arrogantly and without apology.
    • The newspaper has issued an apology to the minister.
    • We expect a full written apology.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • abject
    • humble
    • profuse
    • …
    verb + apology
    • convey
    • give somebody
    • issue
    • …
    preposition
    • without apology
    • apology for
    • apology from
    • …
    phrases
    • extend your apologies
    • a letter of apology
    • make no apology for
    • …
    See full entry
  2. [countable, usually plural] information that you cannot go to a meeting or must leave early
    • The meeting started with apologies (= the names of people who said they could not go to the meeting).
    • (formal) She made her apologies and left early.
    Wordfinder
    Topics Working lifec2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • abject
    • humble
    • profuse
    • …
    verb + apology
    • convey
    • give somebody
    • issue
    • …
    preposition
    • without apology
    • apology for
    • apology from
    • …
    phrases
    • extend your apologies
    • a letter of apology
    • make no apology for
    • …
    See full entry
    3. Word Originmid 16th cent. (denoting a formal defence against an accusation): from French apologie, or via late Latin from Greek apologia ‘a speech in one's own defence’, from apo ‘away’+ -logia (see -ology).
Idioms
make no apology/apologies for something
  1. if you say that you make no apology/apologies for something, you mean that you do not feel that you have said or done anything wrong
See apology in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee apology in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: apology

Nearby words

given
adjective
 
 
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OPAL spoken words
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