Alibi
/ˈæl.ɪ.baɪ/noun
A claim or proof that one was elsewhere when an act, especially a crime, occurred.
Did you know?Alibi comes straight from Latin legal language, where it simply meant “in another place,” and only later became a criminal defense word.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
alibi
“in another place; elsewhere”
Middle Ages
Latin
alibi
“elsewhere, especially in legal contexts”
18th Century
English
alibi
“proof that an accused person was elsewhere”
Modern English
English
alibi
“a claim of being elsewhere at the time of an event, especially a crime”