/ əˈpɒlədʒi; NAmE əˈpɑːl-/ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C , U ] apology (to sb) (for sth) a word or statement saying sorry for sth that has been done wrong or that causes a problem :
to offer / make / demand / accept an apology
You owe him an apology for what you said.
We should like to offer our apologies for the delay to your flight today.
We received a letter of apology.
2.
[ C , usually pl. ] information that you cannot go to a meeting or must leave early :
The meeting started with apologies (= the names of people who said they could not go to the meeting) .
( formal )
She made her apologies and left early.
•
IDIOMS
- make no apology / apologies for sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (denoting a formal defence against an accusation): from French apologie , or via late Latin from Greek apologia a speech in one's own defence, from apo away+ -logia (see -ology ).