“I apologize if I offended” in the mealy-mouthed apology used by those who refuse to actually apologize.
Yeah, that little word “if” makes a big difference. It means “what I said wasn’t offensive or wrong but IF you choose to take it that way, that’s your choice.”
Leave the “if” out and it means “what I said was offensive, wrong, and I should not have said it. I apologize.”