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

For Mark, it’s the off-duty verbal combat with Dawn that really hurts.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

In its after-action report, the Fire Department listed almost 100 challenges that firefighters faced during the Palisades fire, including an inability to secure the origin of the fire, an ineffective process for recalling firefighters who were off-duty to come back into work, and fire chiefs with little to no experience handling such a major incident.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ahead of the interview, Dimon appeared before a town hall on the campus - cutting a figure more akin to an off-duty rock star than bank CEO - wearing an open-collar shirt and jeans, and high-fiving staff on his way to the stage.

Read more on BBC

A man is suing Los Angeles County, alleging off-duty sheriff’s deputies beat him up last Thanksgiving Day in Santa Clarita and then tried to cover up the incident.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ms Smith, 43, from Slough, died at the scene despite an off-duty firefighter at the pub performing CPR.

Read more on BBC