my most sincere apologies

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseformal

   A very polite and serious way of saying you are truly sorry for a mistake or for causing trouble.

   Grammar: Used as a stand-alone expression, often at the start or end of a letter: My most sincere apologies for the delay.

   Patterns

   • my most sincere apologies for something
   • my most sincere apologies to someone

   My most sincere apologies for keeping you waiting so long.

   Please accept my most sincere apologies for the mix-up with your booking.

   I offer my most sincere apologies to everyone affected by the error.

2. 2phrasefixed phrasehumorous

   Said with exaggerated politeness, sometimes sarcastically, when the speaker does not really feel sorry.

   Grammar: The tone shows whether it is genuine or mocking.

   Oh, my most sincere apologies, I didn't realise this was your chair.

   'My most sincere apologies,' he said with a smirk, and sat down anyway.

   You'll have to forgive me, my most sincere apologies, for breathing too loudly.

Common combinations

offer my most sincere apologies

I offer my most sincere apologies for the inconvenience.

accept my most sincere apologies

Please accept my most sincere apologies for the late reply.

my most sincere apologies for

My most sincere apologies for missing your call.

extend my most sincere apologies

We extend our most sincere apologies to the family.

Synonyms and how they differ

my deepest apologies

This is almost identical, though deepest stresses the strength of regret more than the honesty.

sorry

Sorry is the everyday, casual word and sounds far less formal.

I do apologise

This is a polite British spoken form, lighter than the written most sincere apologies.

forgive me

Forgive me asks for pardon rather than simply expressing regret.

Word family

apologise verb

to say you are sorry

apology noun

a statement saying you are sorry

apologetic adjective

showing that you feel sorry

sincere adjective

honest and genuine, meaning what you say

sincerely adverb

in an honest and genuine way

Commonly confused: my most sincere apologies or apologies vs apology?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “my most sincere apologies”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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