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Pretext vs Alibi - What's the difference?

pretext | alibi |

As nouns the difference between pretext and alibi

is that pretext is a false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason; a pretense while alibi is the plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a crime proves or attempts to prove being in another place when the alleged act was committed; as, to set up an alibi; to prove an alibi.

As verbs the difference between pretext and alibi

is that pretext is to employ a pretext, which involves using a false or contrived purpose for soliciting the gain of something else while alibi is to provide an alibi for.

pretext

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason; a pretense.
  • The reporter called the company on the pretext of trying to resolve a consumer complaint.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=May 27 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992) , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=When that metaphor proves untenable, he switches to insisting that women are like beer but that’s mainly as a pretext to drink until he passes out in a father-son bonding haze.}}

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

    (Pretexting) (en verb)
  • To employ a pretext, which involves using a false or contrived purpose for soliciting the gain of something else.
  • The spy obtained his phone records using possibly-illegal pretexting methods.

    Synonyms

    * blag (UK)

    See also

    * (Social engineering)

    alibi

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (legal) The plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a crime proves or attempts to prove being in another place when the alleged act was committed; as, to set up an alibi; to prove an alibi.
  • * 1988 , Criminal Law Deskbook , ISBN 0820512176:
  • Alibi is different from all of the other defenses . . . it is based upon the premise that the defendant is truly innocent.
  • An excuse, especially one used to avoid responsibility or blame.
  • Derived terms

    * Alibi Ike * watertight alibi

    Verb

    (es)
  • To provide an for.
  • To provide an excuse for.
  • See also

    * (projectlink) * * (projectlink) * (projectlink) ----