'apologete' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀπολογητής' (apologētēs), where 'apo-' meant 'away, from' and 'logētēs' (from 'legein') related to 'speaking' or 'reasoning'.

'apologete' came into Late Latin as 'apologēta' and was used in Medieval Latin and Old French (e.g. 'apologète'), eventually appearing in English as the borrowed form 'apologete'.

Initially it meant 'one who makes a defense (in speech)', and over time this core meaning has remained, though modern usage often overlaps with 'apologist' and is relatively rare or archaic.