Apologize or apology?
apologize is a verb meaning “To make an apology or excuse; to acknowledge some fault or offense, with…”; apology is a noun meaning “An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that…”. Use apologize as a verb and apology as a noun. In written English (wordfreq, 2021 data) apologize is about as common as apology.
What is the difference between apologize and apology?
| apologize | apology | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | verb | noun |
| Meaning | BritishUSTo make an apology or excuse; to acknowledge some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends BritishUSTo express regret that a certain event has occurred | An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry) A formal justification, defence |
| Example | My correspondent apologized for not answering my letter | What he said really hurt my feelings, but his apology sounded so sincere that I couldn't help but forgive him |
| Forms | apologizes, apologizing, apologized | apologies |
| Pronunciation | /əˈpɒləˌd͡ʒaɪz/ /əˈpɔləˌd͡ʒɑjz/ /əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/ | /əˈpɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/ /əˈpɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ |
| In writing | 14 times per million words | 11 times per million words |
Sources: apologize and apology in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of apologize and apology
apologize
- 1
BritishUSTo make an apology or excuse; to acknowledge some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends
My correspondent apologized for not answering my letter
- 2
BritishUSTo express regret that a certain event has occurred
- 3
BritishUSdatedTo make an apologia or defense; to act as apologist
apology
- 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
- 2
A formal justification, defence
the Apology of Socrates
- 3
Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift
a poor apology for a hotel room
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, apologize or apology?
apologize appears 14 times per million words; apology 11 times per million words.
apologize 14 times per million wordsapology 11 times per million words
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).