apologetic

1 of 2

adjective

apol·​o·​get·​ic ə-ˌpä-lə-ˈje-tik 

1

: feeling or showing regret : regretfully acknowledging fault or failure : expressing an apology

They were apologetic about the error.

We received an apologetic letter.

an apologetic smile/tone

2

: offered in defense or vindication

the apologetic writings of the early Christians

apologetically

ə-ˌpä-lə-ˈje-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

apologetic

2 of 2

noun

: apologetics sense 1

Synonyms

Adjective

• compunctious
• contrite
• penitent
• regretful
• remorseful
• repentant
• rueful
• sorry

Examples of apologetic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Dixon opened her 2024 campaign with a public mea culpa, publishing an apologetic op-ed in The Sun. —Emily Opilo, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2024

In recent weeks, Musk has been less apologetic about the headcount reductions. —William Gavin, Quartz, 8 May 2024

Noun

Soon after, what would normally be a postgame handshake between head coaches became a testy scene in which Falcons coach Arthur Smith could be seen angrily asking an apologetic Allen for an explanation. —Brett Martel, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2024

Farian was a mixture of apologetic and defensive when the Milli Vanilli scandal unraveled in 1990, saying that Americans were overly focused on issues of authenticity in pop music, unlike the rest of the world. —A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 23 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Late Latin apologēticus "defensive, justifying," borrowed from Greek apologētikós "suitable for defence, offered in defense," from apologē-, variant stem of apologéomai, apologeîsthai "to speak in defense, defend oneself, be an advocate for" (Late Greek, "be an advocate for the Christian faith") (from apo- apo- + -logeomai, -logeisthai, verbal derivative of lógos "word, speech, argument") + -t-, verbal adjective formative + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at legend

Noun

Middle English apologetik, borrowed from Medieval Latin apologēticus or apologēticum, noun derivatives from masculine and neuter of Late Latin apologēticus "defensive, justifying" — more at apologetic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

apologetic

adjective

apol·​o·​get·​ic

ə-ˌpäl-ə-ˈjet-ik

1

: offered by way of apology

an apologetic smile

2

: sorry for some fault or failure

apologetically

-ˈjet-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb