apologia

apologia
noun
ap·;o·;lo·;gia ;a-p;-;l;-j(;-);
Synonyms of apologia
: a defense especially of one's opinions, position, or actions
the finest apologia or explanation of what drives a man to devote his life to pure mathematics
—British Book News


Did you know?
As you might expect, apologia is a close relative of apology. Both words come from Late Latin; apologia came to English as a direct borrowing while apology traveled through Middle French. The Latin apologia can be traced back to the Greek verb apologe;sthai, meaning "to speak in defense; defend oneself." In their earliest English uses, apologia and apology meant basically the same thing: a formal defense or justification of one's actions or opinions. Nowadays, however, the two are distinct. The modern apology generally involves an admission of wrongdoing and an expression of regret for past actions, while an apologia typically focuses on explaining, justifying, or making clear the grounds for some course of action, belief, or position.

Choose the Right Synonym for apologia

apology, apologia, excuse, plea, pretext, alibi mean matter offered in explanation or defense.

apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could
apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.

his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy
excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.

used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting
plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.

her usual plea that she was nearsighted
pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.

used any pretext to get out of work
alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.

his alibi failed to stand scrutiny
Examples of apologia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The song — a moody, synthy ballad — is an apologia of sorts for, uh, something.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 May 2025
Prime Video’s Identity Crisis None of this should be taken as some sort of blanket apologia for Salke’s tenure.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
Taken in bad faith, some of these things might sound like apologia or good fortune, but that is the nature of tennis and of seizing the moment: winning against what is immediately in front of you.
—James Hansen, The Athletic, 13 Aug. 2024
One assumption of the new wave of apologias for liberalism is that, to keep attracting adherents, the stagnating ideology must be recast as a spiritual enterprise, or a personal therapy, or a grand and invigorating project.
—Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 3 July 2024

Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Late Latin — more at apology

First Known Use
1784, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of apologia was in 1784
See more words from the same year