alibi

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Alibi as a noun is defined as a defense to a criminal charge alleging that the accused was somewhere other than at the scene of the crime at the time it occurred. 

  • For example, A could not confirm B’s alibi that B was at the dentist office at the time of the robbery.

Alibi as a verb is used when a person provides an alibi for someone. 

  • For example, A’s dentist is A’s alibi: they were at their appointment at the time of the robbery. 

See, e.g. Lee v. Kemna, 534 U.S. 362 (2002)

See also Alibi witness Criminal law

[Last updated in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]