apology
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
apology/əˈpɒləʤi/
▶noun (pl. apologies)
- 1 a regretful acknowledgement of an offence or failure.
■ (apologies) a formal expression of regret at being unable to attend a meeting or social function.
- 2 (an apology for) a very poor example of.
- 3 a justification or defence.
– origin C16: from Fr. apologie, or via late L. from Gk apologia ‘a speech in one's own defence’, from apo ‘away’ + -logia (see -logy).
'apology' also found in these Oxford entries:
