noun / verb
alibi
AL-uh-bye/ˈæləbaɪ/
An explanation intended to establish freedom from blame.
The café's timestamped security image supports the suspect's alibi.
Etymology
Latin alibi means “elsewhere.” Its legal use turns that location into a defense: evidence that people were elsewhere when the crime occurred supports their innocence.
In context
His alibi was his Fitbit that he had been wearing all night and that supposedly proved that he was asleep at the time of her murder.
More examples
- The detective checked each suspect's alibi.
- He always has an alibi for missing an important deadline.
- The coach refused to let the players alibi their way out of responsibility.
Forms
alibi · alibis · alibied · alibiing