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to offer an or excuse for some fault, insult, failure, or injury:
He apologized for accusing her falsely.
to make a formal defense in speech or writing.
Contemporary Examples

I didn’t mean to convey any discourtesy and I apologise if I did.
Ryanair Boss Apologises For Queen Sex Joke Tom Sykes March 31, 2014

Do say ‘Olga, there has been a misunderstanding, for which I wanted to apologise.’
How To Fire Your Maid, By A Russian Oligarch Tom Sykes September 30, 2014

“For those of you expecting Harry Styles, I apologise and no, I’m not going to sing,” Harry told the crowd.
Cressida At Harry’s Side At Official Event – Engagement Rumors Ramp Up! Tom Sykes March 6, 2014

“If Britain wishes to apologise, fine with us, no problem at all,” she said.
Jamaica PM Ups The Anti-British Rhetoric as Harry Arrives Tom Sykes March 5, 2012

Step away politely, apologise profusely, and find a taxi, pronto.
Does California’s College Rape Bill Go Too Far In Regulating Sex? Emma Woolf June 22, 2014

Historical Examples

To strangers whom Cassowary has never loved and would now assault with spear and nulla-nulla, they apologise.
Tropic Days E. J. Banfield

I told you I did not like to apologise, so you may know how sorry I am.
One Day’s Courtship Robert Barr

The weariness of the long labour must often apologise for languor, where the claims of the matter are less importunate.
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 354, April 1845 Various

She seemed to apologise and at the same time to say to me, “If only you knew!”
Monday or Tuesday Virginia Woolf

The fact that they have offered to apologise will no doubt be a point in their favour.
Dr. Wortle’s School Anthony Trollope

verb (intransitive)
to express or make an apology; acknowledge failings or faults
to make a formal defence in speech or writing
v.

chiefly British English spelling of apologize; for suffix, see -ize. Related: Apologised; apologising.
v.

1590s, “to speak in defense of;” see apology + -ize. Main modern sense “to regretfully acknowledge” is attested by 1725. The Greek equivalent, apologizesthai, meant simply “to give an account.” Related: Apologized; apologizing.