apologist

noun

apol·​o·​gist ə-ˈpä-lə-jist 

plural apologists

: someone who speaks or writes in defense of someone or something that is typically controversial, unpopular, or subject to criticism

… an apologist for moneyed interests.

—S. L. Price

Apologists argued that funneling contracts to his children did not matter too much since the projects—new roads, factories, airports—did get built.

—Johanna McGeary

Apologists for the status quo will always claim that if change were really needed, the market would have already made it happen.

—Michael Grunwald

Examples of apologist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But what of the apologists for madness and criminality, the comfortable sophists who invert morality to score partisan points? —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 14 Dec. 2024

The effort that went into threading appeals to apologists for every era of Linkin Park across From Zero makes the points that haven’t been addressed stand out. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024

At the same time, deniers and apologists are now more easily able to circulate revisionist views. —George Soroka, Foreign Affairs, 14 July 2015

Once again, the bullish apologists will say this is the big one. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin apologista, from Late Latin apologia "defense in speech or writing" + New Latin -ista -ist entry 1 — more at apology

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

apologist

noun

apol·​o·​gist ə-ˈpäl-ə-jəst 

: one who speaks or writes in defense of a faith, cause, or institution