not engaged in the performance of one's usual work.
an off-duty police officer.
of, relating to, or during a period when a person is not at work.
First recorded in 1850–55
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Nunez said the suspect was "apprehended by an off-duty police officer".
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
The incident occurred Saturday night when the off-duty deputy let the 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, named Santi, out into the yard to urinate, according to a news release by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
Det Insp Craig McEvoy told 9News that the driver had been arrested by an off-duty officer who received assistance from the public.
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026
"The ceasefire definitely soothes our nerves, hoping it stays this way. The crew is finally taking a breather," an off-duty captain of a ship, whose crew is stranded off Qatar, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026
In truth, Mother Fletcher was the only one in his precinct that he thought of during his off-duty hours.
From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers
The Associated Press reported that the remains of two Army soldiers who went missing while off duty from military exercises in Morocco were recovered in May.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026
Prosecutors said the 40 -year-old did this while off duty and on sick days to earn cash on the side of his day job.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
Platner pleaded ignorance—claiming that he had gotten inked with insignia while drunk and off duty in Croatia, and didn’t understand the horrific context until much later.
From Slate ● Apr. 13, 2026
Kirakosian said this incident likely resulted in an arrest because the agent was off duty.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 17, 2025
“I’m off duty at twelve, and that’s just about now. So I’m on my own time.”
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
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.
