SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
alibi
noun
An explanation that someone was elsewhere when an alleged act occurred; more broadly, an excuse.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Claim of being elsewhere
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topAn alibi specifically places someone elsewhere; defense alone is much broader.
Excuse for conduct
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPretext or cover story implies deception; an alibi is not necessarily false.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See alibi in use
In the mystery, a station photograph provides the traveler with an alibi.
An alibi in the fictional case places a dock worker at a live radio performance throughout the interval when the boathouse was burned.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license