Citations:fauxpology

Noun: "(slang) a nominal apology which seems to express contrition but does not actually acknowledge any wrongdoing"

 * 2005, Holly Mullen, "Mullen: Hey Rove, 'sorry' can't kill you", The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 June 2005:
 * Let's see. Durbin apologized last week for his obvious hyperbole, although he and other critics are spot on about the human rights violations coming out of Gitmo and its tarnished reputation around the world. But his Republican foes labeled it a "fauxpology." Just not good enough.
 * 2010, Ruth Marcus, "The Gulf oil disaster: when bad things happen to bad companies", The Seattle Times, 23 June 2010:
 * What satirist could then top Texas Republican Joe Barton's coerced, linguistically mangled fauxpology? "If anything I said this morning has been misconstrued to the opposite effect I want to apologize for that misconstrued misconstruction." Translation: It's your fault for hearing me right the first time.
 * 2010, Belinda Luscombe, "Thank You, Ginni Thomas", Time, 20 October 2010:
 * The old “sorry if I upset you” route is the go-to tactic of politicians, celebrities, media corporations and spouses for a reason. It looks and smells like an apology, but acknowledges no wrongdoing. It’s a fauxpology.
 * 2011, Ashlee Mullany, "Qantas apologises over 'appalling' blackface Twitter post", Courier Mail, 28 August 2011:
 * "Cut it out with the fauxpologies. Say you're sorry for posting the photo that did offend people (not if)," one tweet read.
 * 2012, Julie Golden, Vagilantes, Abbott Press (2012), ISBN 9781458201775, page 190:
 * “Hey love. How'sit?” Jena greets without even a fauxpology for her lateness.