Legal Dictionary
Alibi
Definition
A claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, typically a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place.
Deep Dive
An "alibi" is a defense used in criminal proceedings where the accused presents evidence or a claim that they were physically present at a location other than the scene of the crime at the time it was committed. Derived from the Latin word meaning "elsewhere," an alibi directly challenges the prosecution's assertion that the defendant committed the crime by demonstrating their physical impossibility of having been present to carry it out.
Examples & Use Cases
- 1The suspect presented flight tickets and hotel reservations proving he was on vacation out of state when the robbery occurred, establishing a strong *alibi*
- 2Her coworker provided an *alibi*, testifying that they were collaborating on a project in a different office at the time of the alleged hacking
- 3Security camera footage from a local diner showed the defendant eating breakfast at the exact time of the reported vandalism, providing a crucial *alibi*.
Related Terms
DefenseReasonable DoubtCorroboration