From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishapologya‧pol‧o‧gy /əˈpɒlədʒi $ əˈpɑː-/ ●●● S3 noun (plural apologies) 1 SORRY/APOLOGIZE[countable, uncountable] something that you say or write to show that you are sorry for doing something wrongapology for The minister had to issue a formal public apology for his remarks.apology from She finally received an apology from the company.apology to an apology to passengers for any inconvenience caused2 → apologies3 → make your apologies4 → make no apology for something5 [countable] literaryAL a statement in which you defend something you believe in after it has been criticized by other peopleapology for an apology for Christianity6 → an apology for somethingCOLLOCATIONSverbsmake an apologyI hope you are going to make an apology.issue an apology (=make an official public apology)North Korea issued an official apology for the incident.get/receive an apologyHe received a formal apology from the company.offer an apologyWe would like to offer our sincere apologies for the delay.accept somebody’s apologyPlease accept my apologies for having to cancel our meeting.demand an apologyChina continued to demand a full apology from the US.owe somebody an apologyI’m afraid I owe you an apology.publish an apology (=print it in a newspaper)The newspaper group was forced to publish a full apology.mumble/mutter an apology (=say it quietly, especially because you are embarrassed)He bumped into me and mumbled an apology.adjectivesmy sincere/profound apologies (=used when you feel very sorry)Firstly, my sincere apologies for not having contacted you earlier.‘I have been guilty of making some insensitive remarks, ’ said Wright, who offered his profound apologies to everyone concerned.a public apologyThe authorities published a public apology in the newspaper.a formal apologyRussia is demanding a formal apology.an official apologyThe company has made an official apology and is offering compensation.a written apologyThe police sent a written apology to the family.a full apologyThe prime minister made a full apology in the House of Commons.an abject apology formal (=one that shows that you are very sorry)The BBC issued an abject apology for insulting the Queen.profuse apologies formal (=when someone says that they are sorry several times )Moira telephoned with profuse apologies for the misunderstanding.phrasesa letter of apologyWe agreed to write a letter of apology.
Examples from the Corpus
apology• Blake was wrongfully arrested and is now demanding an apology from the police.• The first time Stepmother Edna hit me I was convinced it was a mistake and waited dumbly for an apology.• I never thought she'd get the job. I guess I owe her an apology.• He had forgotten to tell the cook to save some food for us, but he did not offer an apology.• The story was full of lies, and the paper had to print an apology.• Until an apology was forthcoming, he was damned if he was going to get in touch with her.• Probably there was an apology in it, Jasper offered.• A bad apology will erode intimacy.• Across the room Linda was repeating her apologies, Oliver hovering in the background.• Gates praised the report, but made no apology for the aggressive style and reputation of his force.• As he reflected on his appalling behaviour, he mentally composed a letter of apology to his host.• Please accept our apologies for taking so long to deliver the materials you requested.• The Earl's descendant accepted the apologies of Hampden's heir.• In a written apology, the BBC admitted they had misled the public.apology for• The police chief issued an apology for the officer's behavior.Origin apology (1500-1600) Late Latin apologia “written or spoken defense”, from Greek, from apo- ( → APOCALYPSE) + logos “speech” 