Excuse for the absent-minded? (5)
I believe the answer is:
alibi
'excuse' is the definition.
(excuse given by a suspect in an investigation)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for alibi that I've seen before include "it may help you to get off" , "Answer to charge - was somewhere else" , "Defence against accusation - was somewhere else" , "Proof of not being at crime site" , "Sort of explanation" .)