alibi

[al-uh-bahy]

noun

plural

alibis 

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

Even as institutional expertise dooms the victim, it empowers the murderer, who has created a seemingly impenetrable alibi by taking advantage of the record-keeping intrinsic to large organizations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Echeverria faked an alibi by taking Calzada’s phone and using her Facebook account to call himself after the killings, he told the informant.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He did not offer specifics, but dismissed Eagle’s medical alibi, contending the teen “wasn’t on crutches” when police arrested him.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At the motorcycle dealership, prosecutors say that Corona tried to convince a dealership employee to falsify company records to say that he had picked up his motorcycle to support the alibi.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Such details include their attempts to arrange for an alibi and the fact that they “convincingly and repeatedly” lied to investigators and relatives that the killings must have been a mafia hit.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• excuse 
• justification 
• pretext