apologise
Formsapologises, apologising, apologised
US spellingapologize · also used in the UK
- 1To say that you are sorry for a fault or offence, or for something that has caused someone trouble; also, to offer an excuse.
You should apologise to the neighbours for the noise last night.
The council has apologised for sending hundreds of residents the wrong bills.
UsageSay apologise to someone for something (not
incorrect: apologise him); for takes a noun or an -ing form. - 2To argue in defence of a belief, cause or person, acting as an apologist and making an apologia.
To this purpose the most witty, cautious and subtile ſort of the Pagans apologize for themselves
1660, H[enry] More, An Explanation of the Grand Mystery of GodlinessSimilarargue
Note
An older, learned use that stays close to apologia and apologist: to apologise for a faith or cause is to argue in its defence, with no hint of saying sorry. In Henry More's An Explanation of the Grand Mystery of Godliness (1660), the cleverest pagans 'apologize for themselves', pleading their own case. A modern reader hears the everyday meaning first, so defend or speak up for is clearer today.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Henry More wrote An Explanation of the Grand Mystery of Godliness. crrs.library.utoronto.ca
- The book was first published in 1660. cambridge-platonism.divinity.cam.ac.uk
- More describes the cleverest pagans as arguing their own case, using the exact words ‘apologize for themselves’. en.wiktionary.org
Use it in a sentence
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Origin
Formed from apology + -ise.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Apologise is formed from apology and the suffix -ise. en.wiktionary.org