A non-apology apology is a statement that appears to express regret for a wrongdoing, yet does not actually acknowledge responsibility or express genuine remorse. This tactic is commonly used in various sectors such as politics, business, and media. The main purpose is to placate the offended party without accepting blame. Some popular phrases used in non-apology apologies include ‘mistakes were made’ and ‘ifpology’, both of which evade direct responsibility. Despite their controversial nature, non-apology apologies often have legal significance. For instance, in certain jurisdictions, they can help avoid litigation by not admitting guilt. Notably, such apologies do not always imply fault or liability. The effectiveness of an apology is typically measured by its outcome, rather than the level of contrition expressed.
A non-apology apology, sometimes called a backhanded apology, empty apology, nonpology, or fauxpology, is a statement in the form of an apology that does not express remorse for what was done or said, or assigns fault to those ostensibly receiving the apology. It is common in politique et relations publiques.
For instance, saying "I'm sorry you feel that way" to someone who has been offended by a statement is a non-apology apology. It does not admit there was anything wrong with the remarks made, and may imply the person took offense for hypersensitive or irrational reasons. Another form of non-apology does not apologize directly to the injured or insulted party, but generically "to anyone who might have been offended".
Statements of pseudo-apology that do not communicate responsibility for words or deeds may be meaningful expressions of regret, but such statements can also be used to elicit forgiveness without acknowledging fault.
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