Inflected forms: pl. al·i·bis 1.Lawa. A form of defense whereby a defendant attempts to prove that he or she was elsewhere when the crime in question was committed. b. The fact of having been elsewhere when a crime in question was committed. 2.Usage Problem An explanation offered to avoid blame or justify action; an excuse.
VERB:
Inflected forms: al·i·bied, al·i·bi·ing, al·i·bis Usage Problem
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
To make an excuse for oneself.
TRANSITIVE VERB:
To make an excuse for (another).
ETYMOLOGY:
Latin, elsewhere, from alius, other (on the model of ibi, there). See al-1 in Appendix I.
USAGE NOTE:
When used as a noun, alibi in its nonlegal sense of “an excuse” is acceptable in written usage to almost half of the Usage Panel. As a verb (they never alibi), it is unacceptable in written usage to a large majority of the Panel.
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