51Թ

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alibi

[ al-uh-bahy ]

noun

plural alibis.
  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.

    Synonyms: , ,

  3. a person used as one's excuse:

    My sick grandmother was my alibi for missing school.



verb (used without object)

  1. Informal. to give an excuse; offer a defense:

    to alibi for being late.

verb (used with object)

  1. Informal.
    1. to provide an alibi for (someone):

      He alibied his friend out of a fix.

    2. to make or find (one's way) by using alibis:

      to alibi one's way out of work.

alibi

/ ˈæɪˌɪ /

noun

  1. law
    1. a defence by an accused person that he was elsewhere at the time the crime in question was committed
    2. the evidence given to prove this
  2. informal.
    an excuse
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to provide with an alibi
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of alibi1

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin ī (adverb): “in another place, elsewhere”
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of alibi1

C18: from Latin ī elsewhere, from alius other + as in ܲī where
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They said there was no other evidence implicating Duran, and he had an alibi: He had been with his girlfriend and her mother.

From

Hewing to genre conventions, Iris frees herself from Josh’s control and fights back, forcing him to whip up a plan B involving a fine-spun alibi made of stuff and nonsense.

From

In a small village like Saint-Martial, it could take years for the alibi to stick.

From

As Graham’s trial approached, she had a desperate problem — no alibi — but Prow offered a solution.

From

Mr Lenehan lodged a special defence of alibi in connection with the murder accusation.

From

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Ali Babaalible