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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.
a defense, excuse, or justification in speech or writing, as for a cause or doctrine.
(initial capital letter, italics) a dialogue by Plato, centering on Socrates’ defense before the tribunal that condemned him to death.
an inferior specimen or substitute; makeshift:
The tramp wore a sad apology for a hat.
Contemporary Examples

Simply calling the Afghans “crazy” or demanding an apology from them is not a solution.
The U.S. Military Should Hand Out Qurans in Afghanistan as a Good-Will Gesture Richard Miniter February 29, 2012

They apologized for “poor judgment,” then essentially retracted the apology by claiming Wolf’s aide was provoked.
Virginia Republicans Haven’t Learned Paul Begala October 28, 2008

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos played along too, saying “we’ve heard some say that this was an apology tour.”
All Talk, No Action Matthew Yglesias June 6, 2009

McCaughey said she had not read TNR’s apology, but that she assumed it was “politically motivated.”
The Woman Who Killed Health Care Benjamin Sarlin May 14, 2009

But the inevitable cult of apology is of course provoked by the cult of outrage.
Too Late To ‘Pologize For NSA Revenge Porn Leak Lizzie Crocker June 27, 2014

Historical Examples

It was the apology of the old school for the new era of sport.
A History of American Literature Since 1870 Fred Lewis Pattee

In view of the violence you made use of, I consider that you owe my son an apology.
Brave and Bold Horatio Alger

Ample opportunity was given for explanation and apology for the insult.
A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents: Ulysses S. Grant James D. Richardson

She called upon her in the course of the morning, to make an apology.
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10) Maria Edgeworth

It will, at the same time, furnish the apology for my not answering you from Philadelphia.
Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson

noun (pl) -gies
an oral or written expression of regret or contrition for a fault or failing
a poor substitute or offering
another word for apologia
n.

early 15c., “defense, justification,” from Late Latin apologia, from Greek apologia “a speech in defense,” from apologeisthai “to speak in one’s defense,” from apologos “an account, story,” from apo- “from, off” (see apo-) + logos “speech” (see lecture (n.)).

The original English sense of “self-justification” yielded a meaning “frank expression of regret for wrong done,” first recorded 1590s, but this was not the main sense until 18c. The old sense tends to emerge in Latin form apologia (first attested in English 1784), especially since J.H. Newman’s “Apologia pro Vita Sua” (1864).