sorry

[ sor-ee, sawr-ee ]
/ ˈsɒr i, ˈsɔr i /

adjective, sor·ri·er, sor·ri·est.

feeling regret, compunction, sympathy, pity, etc.: to be sorry to leave one's friends; to be sorry for a remark; to be sorry for someone in trouble.
regrettable or deplorable; unfortunate; tragic: a sorry situation; to come to a sorry end.
sorrowful, grieved, or sad: Was she sorry when her brother died?
associated with sorrow; suggestive of grief or suffering; melancholy; dismal.
wretched, poor, useless, or pitiful: a sorry horse.

interjection

(used as a conventional apology or expression of regret): Sorry, you're misinformed. Did I bump you? Sorry.

Origin of sorry

before 900; Middle English; Old English sārig; cognate with Low German sērig, Old High German sērag. See sore, -y1

OTHER WORDS FROM sorry

sor·ri·ly, adverb sor·ri·ness, noun un·sor·ry, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for sorriness

British Dictionary definitions for sorriness

sorry
/ (ˈsɒrɪ) /

adjective -rier or -riest

(usually postpositive often foll by for) feeling or expressing pity, sympathy, remorse, grief, or regret I feel sorry for him
pitiful, wretched, or deplorable a sorry sight
poor; paltry a sorry excuse
affected by sorrow; sad
causing sorrow or sadness

interjection

an exclamation expressing apology, used esp at the time of the misdemeanour, offence, etc

Derived forms of sorry

sorrily, adverb sorriness, noun

Word Origin for sorry

Old English sārig; related to Old High German sērag; see sore

Idioms and Phrases with sorriness

sorry

see better safe than sorry.