noun

alibi

alibi, excuse, proof of absence

The suspect had a solid alibi for the crime.

The suspect had a solid alibi for the crime.

He used work as an alibi to avoid the party.

He used work as an alibi to avoid the party.

to have an alibi to have proof of being elsewhere The suspect had a solid alibi.

an alibi for ((sth.)) an excuse for (sth.) He used work as an alibi to avoid the party.

Synonyms: excuse, defense, justification, pretext

From Latin 'alibi', meaning 'elsewhere'. It combines 'alius' (other) and 'ibi' (there, in that place).

An alibi proves you were 'elsewhere'. The 'ali-' part means 'other', like in 'alias' or 'alien'.

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