Apologetic means expressing regret or saying sorry for something you've done wrong. When you're apologetic, you genuinely feel bad about a mistake and want the other person to know it. An apologetic student might say, “I'm really sorry I interrupted you during your presentation,” with a tone that shows they mean it.

The word describes both the feeling of being sorry and the way you express it. Someone might give an apologetic smile after accidentally bumping into you in the hallway, or write an apologetic note to a friend they hurt. When you're truly apologetic, your words and actions show you understand why what you did was wrong.

Being apologetic is different from making excuses or offering a fake apology. A genuine, apologetic response takes responsibility: “I'm sorry I forgot your birthday” rather than “Sorry, but I was really busy.” People can usually tell the difference between someone who's truly apologetic and someone who's just going through the motions.

The word can also describe something that seems like an apology even when it's not about wrongdoing. An apologetic tone might mean someone sounds hesitant or sorry even when they haven't done anything wrong, like saying “Sorry to bother you” before asking a reasonable question.