alibi
An alibi is an excuse or explanation for being somewhere else when a crime was committed. It's like a "I wasn't there" story.
When someone says they have an alibi for something, it means they can prove they were not involved in the situation, usually because they were at a different place at the time of the incident. For example, if you're accused of being late to work, but your phone records show that you were actually on a call with a friend who can vouch for you, then you have an alibi. This word is often used in court cases or when people are trying to prove their innocence. It's also sometimes used more broadly to mean any kind of excuse or explanation for being somewhere else at the wrong time.
How common is "alibi"?
It appears most frequently in spoken dialogues and less often in other writings.
noun
(law) The plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a crime proves or attempts to prove being in another place when the alleged act was committed.
Example: to set up an alibi
Real examples of "alibi" in context
