Alibi

Meaning

An alibi is proof or a claim that a person was somewhere else when a crime or other event happened, showing that they could not have been responsible.

Simple meaning:

Evidence or a explanation showing you were somewhere else at the time of an incident.

Pronunciation

Alibi

AL-uh-bye

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb (to alibi someone means to provide an alibi for them)

Hindi Meaning

अनुपस्थिति का प्रमाण
घटना के समय कहीं और होने का सबूत
बेगुनाही का प्रमाण
बहाना (informal usage)

Origin

The word alibi comes from the Latin word alibi, meaning “elsewhere”

It entered English in the 18th century as a legal term. Originally, it referred to the defense that an accused person was somewhere else when the crime occurred.

Later, it also came to mean an excuse in everyday language.

Examples

1. The police checked his alibi before questioning other suspects.
2. She has a strong alibi, so the detectives ruled her out.
3. Can anyone confirm your alibi?
4. His alibi was supported by security camera footage.
5. “I was stuck in traffic” sounded more like an alibi than the truth. (informal).

Synonyms

• Proof of absence
• Defense
• Justification (in informal use)
• Excuse (informal)

Antonyms

• Confession
• Admission of guilt
• Evidence of guilt
• Incrimination
• Proof of presence

Common Mistakes

❌ Alibi means "innocent."
✅ An alibi is evidence that supports innocence, not innocence itself.

❌ Everyone's excuse is an alibi.
✅ In its strict legal sense, an alibi specifically means being elsewhere when the event happened.