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

verb

1. tr to provide with an alibi

Word History and Origins

Origin of alibi¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of alibi¹

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

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.

From Los Angeles Times

He didn’t offer proof to back up Duran’s alibi, Baca wrote, and during trial he showed up late so many times the judge held him in contempt, according to court minutes and a payment receipt.

From Los Angeles Times

Those heavily scrutinized prosecutors — which she said include Williams, ousted ex-San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Cook County, Ill. State Attorney Kim Foxx — Romero explained, would review cases to see if there were any instances of overcharging, new evidence or new alibi witnesses that could possibly exonerate someone or lead to their sentence being reduced.

From Salon

Mr Smith said Ms Singler blamed her husband for the attack, but it was found he had been driving a "GPS-tracked truck" in Denver, giving what the prosecutor described as a "complete and verifiable alibi".

From BBC

Related Words

• excuse
• justification
• pretext