fauxpology

English

Etymology

Blend of faux +‎ apology.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

fauxpology (plural fauxpologies)

1. (slang) Synonym of non-apology
   • 2010 June 23, Ruth Marcus, “The Gulf oil disaster: when bad things happen to bad companies”, in The Seattle Times:

     What satirist could then top Texas Republican Joe Barton's coerced, linguistically mangled fauxpology? "If anything I said this morning has been misconstrued to the opposite effect I want to apologize for that misconstrued misconstruction." Translation: It's your fault for hearing me right the first time.

   • 2010 October 20, Belinda Luscombe, “Thank You, Ginni Thomas”, in Time:

     The old “sorry if I upset you” route is the go-to tactic of politicians, celebrities, media corporations and spouses for a reason. It looks and smells like an apology, but acknowledges no wrongdoing. It’s a fauxpology.

   • 2012, Julie Golden, Vagilantes, Abbott Press, →ISBN, page 190:

     “Hey love. How'sit?” Jena greets without even a fauxpology for her lateness.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:fauxpology.