civilian clothes
Americanplural noun
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everyday or ordinary clothing, as distinguished from a military uniform.
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Informal. ordinary clothing as distinguished from a uniform, clerical garb, or work clothes.
Etymology
Origin of civilian clothes
First recorded in 1885–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Corporal Ismaila Ceesay, a 28-year-old information management specialist from Stratford, east London, said part of the exercise was arriving in civilian clothes and changing into uniform only once through the secure barriers.
From BBC • May 24, 2026
When Johannes Høesflot Klæbo strolls down Sixth Avenue in civilian clothes, he could pass for any number of New York City’s better-looking characters.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
Tuesday's lower house vote could see him exchange his uniform for civilian clothes, as one of the three vice-presidents will go on to be chosen as president by parliament.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
The guards did not admit the visitors, who were wearing civilian clothes.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2025
The team exited from the hot zone in pairs, and stood around on the grass in their civilian clothes, looking pale, weak, and thoughtful.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
