OpenEtymology

unapologetic

UKˌʌnəˌpɒləˈdʒetɪkUSˌʌnəˌpɑːləˈdʒetɪk

Meaning

1adj

not feeling or showing any regret or shame about your actions or beliefs

2adj

not willing to make an apology

Structure

word structure
1
un
not
+
2
apologetic
expressing regret

Usage

she was unapologetic about her controversial decision.

he has an unapologetic confidence in his own abilities.

the film presents an unapologetic view of urban life.

Etymology

The word 'unapologetic' is a Modern English formation, built upon the older adjective 'apologetic'. The base 'apologetic' originates from the Greek 'apologētikos', meaning 'defensive', derived from 'apologia' (a speech in defense). This entered English via Late Latin and French, evolving to mean 'expressing regret'. The Germanic prefix 'un-', meaning 'not', is attached directly to this base in English. The literal construction 'not apologetic' perfectly captures the modern abstract meaning of being unwilling to express regret or defense for one's stance, showcasing a clear and logical morphological process within English itself.

Analysis

Structure
un (not) + apologetic (expressing regret)=unnot+apologeticexpressing regret

un: a prefix of germanic origin, used in english to express negation or the opposite of a quality. apologetic: from greek via latin and french, meaning expressing regret or defense. in this compound, it functions as the adjective base meaning 'regretful'.

Unapologetic Meaning, Examples & Word Origin | OpenEtymology