off-duty

[awf-doo-tee, -dyoo-, of-]

adjective

1. not engaged in the performance of one's usual work.

   an off-duty police officer.

2. of, relating to, or during a period when a person is not at work.

Word History and Origins

Origin of off-duty¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Idioms and Phrases

see under on duty.

Example Sentences

An off-duty law enforcement officer was arrested in Riverside County last week after pulling a firearm on a 17-year-old and detaining him on the side of the road.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Hu, of Calgary, a province in Alberta, was pulled from the water by another beachgoer and an off-duty California State Parks peace officer, and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While the woman was able to get back to shore on her own, an off-duty California State Parks peace officer pulled the man from the water and began CPR.

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But the man was later declared dead after he was pulled out of the water by an off-duty California State Parks peace officer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In the nearby village of Burin, settlers attacked Palestinian olive harvesters and an off-duty IDF reservist helping them.

Read more on BBC