alibi

noun ah-lee-BEE Less Common

Origin: Latin alibi ('elsewhere')

Usage Note

alibi is used in French exactly as in English: a legal defence of being elsewhere when a crime occurred. It is also used informally to mean any excuse or pretext. The word is invariable in the plural (des alibis).

Examples

"Son alibi a convaincu le juge."

Natural Translation

His alibi convinced the judge.

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