apology

An apology is an expression of regret or remorse for doing something wrong.

When someone says sorry, they might be making an apology. It's not just about saying "I'm sorry" to make someone feel better, it's a way of taking responsibility for what happened and promising that it won't happen again. If you bump into someone on the street and accidentally hurt their shopping bag, a simple apology can go a long way in fixing things. On the other hand, a company might issue an apology after a product recall, explaining how they plan to make it right with customers. Apologies are usually sincere and heartfelt, but not always. Sometimes people give half-hearted apologies just to smooth things over.