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alibi

1 of 2

noun

al·​i·​bi ˈa-lə-ˌbī How to pronounce alibi (audio)
1
: the plea of having been at the time of the commission of an act elsewhere than at the place of commission
His alibi was that he was at the movies at the time of the crime.
also : the fact or state of having been elsewhere at the time
2
: an excuse usually intended to avert blame or punishment (as for failure or negligence)
made up an alibi for why she missed the meeting
3
: someone or something that provides a person with an alibi
His wife was his alibi.

alibi

2 of 2

verb

alibied; alibiing

transitive verb

: to exonerate (someone) by an alibi : to furnish an excuse for
… took statements from anyone not alibied. Joseph Wambaugh

intransitive verb

: to offer an excuse

Did you know?

In Latin, alibi was an adverb that meant “elsewhere.” When the word was first adopted into English in the 18th century, it was still limited to its adverbial use. A person on trial might be said to prove himself alibi when the crime was committed. By the end of that century, however, alibi had acquired the status of a noun and was used in legal contexts for “the plea of having been elsewhere at the time of the crime.” The meaning of the word was then extended to apply to the fact or state of having been elsewhere when a crime was committed.

Synonyms

Noun

Choose the Right Synonym for alibi

apology, apologia, excuse, plea, pretext, alibi mean matter offered in explanation or defense.

apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could

apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.

his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy

excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.

used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting

plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.

her usual plea that she was nearsighted

pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.

used any pretext to get out of work

alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.

his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

Example Sentences

Noun Nobody could confirm his alibi that he was at the movies. Her doctor is her alibi: she was in surgery at the time of the murder. She made up an alibi for why she missed the meeting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Unfortunately, my overall lifestyle serves as a poor alibi for this level of athletic devotion. Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, 27 Aug. 2020 Although Russ had an airtight alibi and witnesses who backed up his story, he was still convicted of her murder in 2013. Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 29 Aug. 2022 This — and his having no alibi — raised suspicions, and Zdorov was arrested. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 After all, Taylor, then 17, had what seemed the best imaginable alibi: When Jeffrey Lassiter and Sharon Haugabook were shot to death on Nov. 16, 1992, in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, Taylor was behind bars in a nearby police lockup. Steve Mills, ProPublica, 30 May 2022 His defense team in the second trial had again raised the golf range alibi, but Colucci was not among the witnesses who testified, records show. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2022 But Shelton had an alibi for the night of the shooting. Emma Steele, CBS News, 6 May 2022 After Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting found issues with the alibi of a previous suspect, lawyers representing Dennis Perry, the man convicted of the double murder, decided to conduct a DNA test. Joshua Sharpe, ajc, 21 Jan. 2022 Meanwhile, Aileen lies to the police about Brian’s whereabouts on the night in question, her natural maternal protective instinct being to provide an alibi. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 May 2022
Verb
When faced with having to alibi to their spouses, Fiona and Bob, unbeknown to each other, involve a young couple, William and Mary Featherstone (Benjamin Cole and Noelle Marion). David Coddon, sandiegouniontribune.com, 15 Apr. 2018 When faced with having to alibi to their spouses, Fiona and Bob, unbeknown to each other, involve a young couple, William and Mary Featherstone (Benjamin Cole and Noelle Marion). David Coddon, sandiegouniontribune.com, 15 Apr. 2018 In 1992, Bill Clinton felt compelled to alibi his youthful encounter with marijuana. Mark Z. Barabak, latimes.com, 24 Oct. 2017 See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Latin alibī "in another place, elsewhere," from alius "other" + -bī, locative suffix (as also in ibi, ibī "in that place, there," ubi, ubī "where?"), going back to Indo-European *-dhe (also in Oscan puf "where?," Umbrian pufe, Old Church Slavic kŭde, Sanskrit kúha, all going back to *kwu-dhe) + a particle *-i — more at else

Verb

derivative of alibi entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1731, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1909, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of alibi was in 1731

Phrases Containing alibi

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