civilian clothes

plural noun

1. everyday or ordinary clothing, as distinguished from a military uniform.

2. Informal.,  ordinary clothing as distinguished from a uniform, clerical garb, or work clothes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of civilian clothes¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Men dressed in civilian clothes, armed with Kalashnikov rifles, patrolled the streets hunting down protesters.

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He repeats the tall tales, and he sympathizes with their struggles with wanderlust and the challenge of finding civilian clothes that fit and are affordable.

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The man accused of killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk will be allowed to wear civilian clothes during pre-trial hearings to avoid prejudicing potential jurors, a Utah judge has said.

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Photographs released by Gaza's medical authorities show some of the bodies badly decomposed, and arriving in civilian clothes or naked except for underwear, some with multiple signs of injury.

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It has deployed thousands of armed men to patrol the streets, often dressed in civilian clothes.

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