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 of apologetic

Adjective

• sorry
• ashamed
• remorseful
• regretful
• contrite
• repentant

Examples of apologetic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The professor who gave me the news was polite and professional, apologetic even. —Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026

Eventually, he was escorted out of the event space, with Palmer looking concerned for him and apologetic toward her co-stars and the crowd. —William Earl, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026

Noun

Bolloré and Bonnassies’s book is part of a burgeoning genre of apologetics that relies on relatively new scientific developments and theories, like quantum mechanics and cosmology, to make an ancient case. —Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026

This, of course, is the standard line of Trump apologetics: some obvious outrage is identified, and defenders immediately scour history for an earlier, vaguely similar act by a President who actually respected the Constitution. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025

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

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for apologetic

• aeromagnetic
• antiemetic
• antipathetic
• biogenetic
• biomimetic
• biosynthetic
• cytogenetic
• diagenetic
• diamagnetic
• diaphoretic
• epigenetic
• ferromagnetic

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