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View synonyms for alibi

alibi

[ al-uh-bahy ]

noun

, plural al·i·bis.
  1. Law. the defense by an accused person of having been elsewhere at the time an alleged offense was committed.
  2. an excuse, especially to avoid blame.

    Synonyms: justification, reason, explanation

  3. a person used as one's excuse:

    My sick grandmother was my alibi for missing school.



verb (used without object)

  1. Informal. to give an excuse; offer a defense:

    to alibi for being late.

verb (used with object)

  1. Informal.
    1. to provide an alibi for (someone):

      He alibied his friend out of a fix.

    2. to make or find (one's way) by using alibis:

      to alibi one's way out of work.

alibi

/ ˈælɪˌbaɪ /

noun

  1. law
    1. a defence by an accused person that he was elsewhere at the time the crime in question was committed
    2. the evidence given to prove this
  2. informal.
    an excuse
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to provide with an alibi
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of alibi1

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin alibī (adverb): “in another place, elsewhere”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of alibi1

C18: from Latin alibī elsewhere, from alius other + -bī as in ubī where
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Example Sentences

However, it turned out the man had an alibi and was ruled out.

From BBC

They said there was no other evidence implicating Duran, and he had an alibi: He’d been with his girlfriend and her mother.

Over the coming weeks, 572 men provided alibis to police that ruled them out of the investigation.

From BBC

This time, George Franklin had a solid alibi — he was at a union meeting — and DNA evidence excluded him.

Prosecutors at his trial said the trip was his way of constructing a "cast-iron" alibi while he paid a hitman to kill Carol, 36, and make it look like a robbery at their convenience store.

From BBC

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Ali Babaalible