apology: Meaning and Definition of

a•pol•o•gy

Pronunciation: (u-pol'u-jē), [key]
— pl. -gies.
  1. a written or spoken expression of one's regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another: He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.
  2. a defense, excuse, or justification in speech or writing, as for a cause or doctrine.
  3. (cap., italics) a dialogue by Plato, centering on Socrates' defense before the tribunal that condemned him to death.
  4. an inferior specimen or substitute; makeshift: The tramp wore a sad apology for a hat.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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