plain clothes

Or plainclothes

plural noun

1. clothing other than one's uniform, especially civilian clothes worn on duty by a police officer.

plain clothes

plural noun

1. 1. ordinary clothes, as distinguished from uniform, as worn by a police detective on duty

   2. ( as modifier )

      a plain-clothes policeman

Other Word Forms

• plain-clothes adjective
• plainclothes adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plain clothes¹

First recorded in 1815–25