“Apologize” and “apologise” are regional spelling variants of the same verb. Cambridge marks “apologise” as the usual UK form, so the practical choice is to follow the regional or house style required by the audience.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionEnglish Usage
Quick answer
Both spellings represent the same verb; “apologise” is usual in UK usage, while “apologize” is the form to use when your chosen regional or house style calls for it.
Key details
Confusion Familyregional-variant
Rule Familyregional-spelling
Termsapologize, apologise
Further guidance
Core difference
The forms differ in spelling, not in core meaning; Cambridge notes that UK usage usually has “apologise”.
Usage Boundary
Choose one spelling according to regional or organizational style and keep it consistent rather than inventing a meaning difference.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
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