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
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
The force added it was aware that an off-duty serving Met special constable was involved and said the matter has been referred to the Department of Professional Standards for assessment.
From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2026
Unfortunately for Farrington, his seatmate was an off-duty policeman.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Liam said that nowadays they were most often mixed up when they were off duty.
From BBC ● May 19, 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
Palacios was off duty, so there is no body camera video.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2026
In an hour he would be off duty, thank Christ.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
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.
