# alibi

/ˈæɫəˌbaɪ/ (US) · /ˈæləbˌaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alibi
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. legal proof of location

noun · CEFR B2

proof that you were in a different place when a crime was committed.

For teachers: a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an alleged act, typically a crime, took place.

- The suspect had a perfect alibi because he was at work during the robbery.
- The defense attorney struggled to establish a credible alibi for the defendant, as no witnesses could confirm his whereabouts at the time of the incident.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'have', 'provide', or 'establish'.

### 2. an excuse

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

an excuse you use to avoid being blamed for something.

For teachers: an excuse, especially one intended to avoid responsibility or shift blame for a failure.

- He always has an alibi for why his homework is late.
- The manager dismissed the employee's latest alibi for the project's delay, noting a consistent pattern of missed deadlines over the previous quarter.

Teaching tip: While common in speech, some traditionalists consider using 'alibi' to mean a general 'excuse' to be incorrect or informal.

### 3. to provide an excuse

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to give someone an excuse or to say you were with them to protect them.

For teachers: to provide an alibi or a justifying excuse for someone else.

- His brother agreed to alibi him if the police asked any questions.
- The witness was eventually caught in a lie after attempting to alibi her associate during the initial police interrogation.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The suspect has a strong alibi for the night of the robbery.
- The detective spent the afternoon interviewing witnesses to verify the suspect's alibi and confirm his location during the incident.
- While the defendant's alibi seemed airtight initially, the prosecution introduced digital evidence suggesting that his mobile phone had been used miles away from his claimed location.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.