Difference Between Saying Sorry & Offering an Apology

Sorry vs Apology

Sorry and Apology are two words that are often confused due to their similar meanings, even though there are some differences between them that need to be understood. To begin with, apology is a noun, whereas sorry is an adjective. Also, the word apology is never used as a verb, even when combined with another word. However, sorry is used as a verb when combined with the verb “feel.” In the English language, you will find phrases that use these words, such as “sorry for oneself” and “with apologies to.”

What does Sorry mean?

The word sorry is used in the sense of “repent” and is employed as an expression to show one’s repentance. Observe the two sentences given below:

I felt extremely sorry when I saw him suffer due to my mistake.
He said "I am sorry."

In both sentences, you can see that the word sorry is used in the sense of “repent,” and hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be “I repented when I saw him suffer due to my mistake.” The meaning of the second sentence would be “he said ‘I am repenting’.” This is the inner meaning of the word “sorry.”

On the other hand, the word sorry is sometimes used in the sense of “sympathize with.” In such cases, the word sorry is used in a figurative manner, as in the sentence “I feel sorry for his state.” This sentence would mean “I sympathize with him.”

What does Apology mean?

The word apology is used in the sense of “seek pardon.” This is the main difference between the two words, namely, sorry and apology. Observe the two sentences given below:

I tendered an apology last night.
He accepted the apologies of his friend.

In both sentences, you can find that the word apology is used in the sense of “seek pardon,” and hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be “I sought pardon last night,” and the meaning of the second sentence would be “he pardoned his friend.” It is understood that apology is the outcome of repentance. This is an important observation to make.

Another interesting use of the word apology is its use in the phrase “an apology for.” This phrase has a connection to the original meaning of the word. The actual meaning of this expression is “a very poor or inadequate example of.” To understand this term better, look at the following example:

We were taken into an apology for an office.

Here, with the use of the expression “an apology for,” we get the idea that the room into which these people were taken was a very poor example for an office.

What is the difference between Sorry and Apology?

• The word sorry is used in the sense of “repent” and is employed as an expression to show one’s repentance.
• On the other hand, the word apology is used in the sense of “seek pardon.” This is the main difference between sorry and apology.
• The word sorry is sometimes used in the sense of “sympathize with.”
• On the other hand, when used in the expression “an apology for,” apology brings about a different meaning as the expression means “a very poor or inadequate example of.”

These are the important differences between the words sorry and apology.