- A formal way to say sorry, express regret, and acknowledge fault for wrongdoing, an error, or inconvenience caused.
Explanation
Origin
- Derived from the verb apologize, which traces back to the Greek word apologia, meaning a speech made in defense.
- Over centuries, its meaning shifted in English from defense/justification to the modern sense of expressing regret for an offense or fault.
- It is standard formal English.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Sorry
- My bad
- My fault
- Soz (UK slang, text speak)
Vulgar/Emphatic (Not typically used for sincere apologies; more likely sarcastic or forced):
- One might say Alright, I fucking apologize, are you happy now? but this is aggressive and insincere. There isn't really a vulgar *equivalent* for a polite apology.
Milder/Standard:
- I'm sorry / I'm very sorry / I'm so sorry
- Excuse me
- Pardon me
More Formal / Emphatic Apology:
- Please accept my sincerest/deepest apologies
- I offer my profound apologies
- I deeply regret...
- My apologies (Slightly less personal than I apologize)
Situational Appropriateness
- Formal.
- Appropriate and often necessary in business communication, customer service, official complaints, when addressing superiors or clients, or when dealing with serious mistakes or offenses.
- Can sound overly formal or stiff in very casual settings among close friends, where Sorry or My bad might be more natural.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Generally well understood as a formal apology.
- The main risk comes from insincerity; a rote or forced I apologize without genuine remorse can be perceived negatively and may worsen the situation.
Examples
- I apologize for the error in the invoice. (Business context)
- We sincerely apologize for the delay of flight 456. (Formal announcement)
- I apologize if my comments offended you. (Formal interpersonal)
Dialogue
Customer: Excuse me, this soup is cold.
Waiter: I do apologize, sir. Please allow me to bring you a fresh, hot bowl immediately.
Customer: Thank you, I'd appreciate that.
Social Media Examples
- Company Official Tweet: We are aware of the current service outage and are working hard to fix it. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
- Formal Email Subject: Apology for Delayed Response
- Email Body: Dear Ms. Evans, Please accept my apologies for the delay in sending the requested report.
- Public Figure Statement: I apologize unreservedly for my remarks earlier today, which were insensitive.
Response Patterns
- Acceptance is common, especially in formal or service contexts.
- Apology accepted.
- Thank you.
- That's quite alright. (Common polite response)
- Don't worry about it. (Can sometimes sound a bit too casual depending on the severity and formality).
- I appreciate that.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- The speaker might follow up by explaining the reason for the error (briefly) or outlining corrective actions (I apologize for the mistake. I have now updated the document and resent it.).
- The listener typically acknowledges the apology and either moves on or, if necessary, discusses the issue further to ensure resolution.
Conversation Starter
- No. Used specifically to address a past action, error, or offense.
Intonation
- Typically delivered with sincerity and a respectful, often subdued tone.
- Stress usually falls on the second syllable: I a-POL-o-gize.
- The tone should convey genuine regret and respect for the person being apologized to.
Generation Differences
- Used across generations in appropriate formal contexts.
- Perhaps used less frequently in casual speech by younger generations who might default to Sorry, but they understand and use I apologize when formality is required.
Regional Variations
- Standard formal English, used and understood universally in the English-speaking world.