noun
alibi
AL-uh-beye
noun
1
A claim or proof that someone was somewhere else when a crime took place.
"His alibi checked out — he was at work during the robbery."
"The detective quickly punched a hole in the suspect's alibi."
2
(informal) Any excuse offered to avoid blame.
"Being tired is not a good alibi for missing the deadline."
How to Use Alibi
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishProof or a claim that you were elsewhere when something happened, or loosely, any excuse.
Common mistake
Strictly, "alibi" refers to proof of location, not just any excuse — careful writers keep it for that legal sense, though everyday speech uses it more loosely.
Common pairings
solid alibi
provide an alibi
check someone's alibi
Word Forms
alibied past tense, alibis plural, alibis singular, alibies singular
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His _____ checked out — he was at work during the robbery.
Etymology
From Latin alibi, meaning "elsewhere" — the legal defence literally claims the accused was somewhere else.