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Law. the defense by an accused person of having been elsewhere at the time an alleged offense was committed.
an excuse, especially to avoid blame.
a person used as one’s excuse:
My sick grandmother was my alibi for missing school.
Informal. to give an excuse; offer a defense:
to alibi for being late.
Informal.

to provide an alibi for (someone):
He alibied his friend out of a fix.
to make or find (one’s way) by using alibis:
to alibi one’s way out of work.

Contemporary Examples

The complaint alleges the lunch was merely to establish an alibi.
DSK Maid’s Lawyers Launch Civil Suit Christopher Dickey August 7, 2011

While the agents did verify that Tessier made the collect call he said he did, the ticket blew a huge hole in his alibi.
Child-Murder Arrest After 53 Years Winston Ross August 5, 2011

But like Knox, Sabrina changed her story several times and her alibi has yet to be corroborated.
Knox’s Grisly Successor Barbie Latza Nadeau October 31, 2010

“Tex-Mex for decades was ascendant,” Arellano told the The Weekly alibi in 2012.
The Next Big Cuisine of 2014 Is … Tex-Mex? Andrew Romano January 24, 2014

On the night of the attack, detectives interviewed Claudia Haro, but she denied any involvement and provided them with an alibi.
Did Joe Pesci’s Ex Hire a Hitman? Christine Pelisek April 10, 2012

Historical Examples

There would have been no harm done and ample time to retreat, change clothes, and prove an alibi if the bluff were unsuccessful.
The Escaping Club A. J. Evans

All of which made for the impression, fantastic or not, of the alibi.
The Wings of the Dove, Volume 1 of 2 Henry James

Later the doctor was able to prove an alibi which cannot be shaken.
The Daffodil Mystery Edgar Wallace

An alibi is exactly the opposite of an egg; the older it is, the better.
Rope Holworthy Hall

In the case of a claim of alibi juries are apt to fall into this fallacy.
The Art of Logical Thinking William Walker Atkinson

noun (pl) -bis
(law)

a defence by an accused person that he was elsewhere at the time the crime in question was committed
the evidence given to prove this

(informal) an excuse
verb
(transitive) to provide with an alibi
n.

1743, “the plea of having been elsewhere when an action took place,” from Latin alibi “elsewhere, somewhere else,” locative of alius “(an)other” (see alias (adv.)). The weakened sense of “excuse” is attested since 1912, but technically any proof of innocence that doesn’t involve being “elsewhere” is an excuse, not an alibi.