alibi

plural alibis

1. lawThe 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.

   to prove an alibi

   3 more examples

   to set up an alibi

   The judge said, “Son, what is your alibi? If you were somewhere else, then you won’t have to die.”

   1959, Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin, “Long Black Veil”

   Alibi is different from all of the other defenses . . . it is based upon the premise that the defendant is truly innocent.

   1988, Criminal Law Deskbook, →ISBN

2. proscribedsometimesAn excuse, especially one used to avoid responsibility or blame.

   That day in September, I'm sure you can remember / That's when all the stuff hit the fan (the stuff hit the fan) / You told me a lie, and you didn't have an alibi / But baby, yet I still cared

   1984, Jocelyn Brown, “Somebody Else's Guy”, in Somebody Else's Guy

present singular third person alibis · present singular third person alibies · participle present alibiing · participle past alibied · past alibied

1. transitiveTo provide an alibi for.

   Bond laughed. 'What an organization!' he said. 'I'm sure it's all beautifully covered up and alibied. What a man! He certainly seems to have the run of this country.'

   1954, Ian Fleming, “Death of a Pelican”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 132

2. transitiveTo provide an excuse for.