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.
Its officers, who wear civilian clothes, have a network of undercover agents and informants dedicated to monitoring and infiltrating dissident movements and independent groups such as art collectives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Nothing in the speech suggested that Min Aung Hlaing in civilian clothes was going to rule Myanmar any differently than when he was in uniform.
From BBC ● Apr. 2, 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
It has deployed thousands of armed men to patrol the streets, often dressed in civilian clothes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
Then I take out my civilian clothes from the wardrobe and put them on.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
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.
