# apology

> English word · Noun · IPA /əˈpɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/ · frequency rank #6,541

## Definitions
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).
2. A formal justification, defence.
3. Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **analogy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/analogy-vs-apology)

## Common misspellings (10)
`aoplogy`, `aploogy`, `apolgoy`, `apollogy`, `apologgy`, `apologyy`, `apoloyg`, `apoolgy`, `appology`, `paology`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/apology