apology

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense.
2. n. A formal justification or defense.
3. n. An explanation or excuse: "The consequence of those measures will be the best apology for my conduct” ( Daniel Defoe).
4. n. An inferior substitute: The sagging cot was a poor apology for a bed.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Something said or written in defense, vindication, or excuse; specifically, a defense or justification of a doctrine, system, course of conduct, etc., against objections or criticisms.
2. n. An excuse, usually accompanied by an expression of regret, for some fault.
3. n. That which imperfectly serves a given purpose; a temporary substitute; a makeshift.
4. n. An apologue.
5. n. Synonyms Apology, Excuse, Plea. Apology has in this sense the force of an admission that one has been, at least seemingly, in the wrong; it therefore pleads any extenuating circumstances, or, more often, offers a frank acknowledgment as the best that can be done toward making matters right. Excuse may mean a defense, or an explanation simply: as, his excuse was quite sufficient; or it may be a mere attempt at justification: as, it was only an excuse; or it may be a begging to be released from a claim: as, “they all with one consent began to make excuse,” Luke xiv. 18. A plea consists, according to the occasion, of an appeal for leniency, or of justificatory or exculpatory argument or persuasion.

Wiktionary

1. n. An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry).
2. n. A formal justification, defence.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Something said or written in defense or justification of what appears to others wrong, or of what may be liable to disapprobation; justification.
2. n. An acknowledgment intended as an atonement for some improper or injurious remark or act; an admission to another of a wrong or discourtesy done him, accompanied by an expression of regret.
3. n. Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.
4. v. obsolete To offer an apology.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a poor example
2. n. an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
3. n. a formal written defense of something you believe in strongly