alibi
Use Alibi in a sentence
əˌbaɪ noun
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.
3.
a person used as one's excuse: My sick grandmother was my alibi for missing school.
verb (used without object)
4.
Informal. to give an excuse; offer a defense: to alibi for being late.
verb (used with object)
5.
Informal.
a.
to provide an alibi for (someone): He alibied his friend out of a fix.
b.
to make or find (one's way) by using alibis: to alibi one's way out of work.
Origin:
1720–30; < Latin alibī (adv.): in or at another place
1720–30; < Latin alibī (adv.): in or at another place
Synonyms
2. explanation, reason, justification.
2. explanation, reason, justification.
Usage note
Alibi in Latin is an adverb meaning “in or at another place.” Its earliest English uses, in the 18th century, are in legal contexts, both as an adverb and as a noun meaning “a plea of having been elsewhere.” The extended noun senses “excuse” and “person used as one's excuse” developed in the 20th century in the United States and occur in all but the most formal writing. As a verb alibi occurs mainly in informal use.
Alibi in Latin is an adverb meaning “in or at another place.” Its earliest English uses, in the 18th century, are in legal contexts, both as an adverb and as a noun meaning “a plea of having been elsewhere.” The extended noun senses “excuse” and “person used as one's excuse” developed in the 20th century in the United States and occur in all but the most formal writing. As a verb alibi occurs mainly in informal use.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To alibi
00:10
Alibi
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
alibi (ˈælɪˌbaɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -bis | |
| 1. | law |
| a. a defence by an accused person that he was elsewhere at the time the crime in question was committed | |
| b. the evidence given to prove this | |
| 2. | informal an excuse |
| —vb | |
| 3. | (tr) to provide with an alibi |
| [C18: from Latin alibī elsewhere, from alius other + -bī as in ubī where] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
alibi
1743, "the plea of having been elsewhere when an action took place," from L. alibi "elsewhere," locative of alius "(an)other" (see alias). The weakened sense of "excuse" is attested since 1912, but technically any proof of innocence that doesn't involve being "elsewhere" is an excuse, not an alibi.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
These days, an alibi would have to true as the evidence would be easy to confirm one way or the other.
The defendant has presented what is commonly known as an alibi defense.
Kyle helps her cover-up the crime and establish an alibi.
Investigators have said they aren't satisfied with his alibi.
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