Dictionary.com

plain clothes

or plainclothes

plural noun

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

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ IF A DAZZLING VOCABULARY IS YOUR DESIDERATUM!

Have the Words of the Day from October 19–25, 2020, made an indelible mark on your memory? Take the quiz to find out!
Question 1 of 7
What does “clement” mean?
having or claiming to have the power of seeing objects or actions beyond the range of natural vision.
mild or merciful in disposition or character; lenient; compassionate.
favorite; cherished.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of plain clothes

First recorded in 1815–25

OTHER WORDS FROM plain clothes

plain-clothes, plainclothes, adjective

Words nearby plain clothes

plain, plain as day, plain bearing, plainchant, plain chocolate, plain clothes, plainclothesman, plain dealing, Plainfield, plain film, plain flour
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for plain clothes

British Dictionary definitions for plain clothes

plain clothes

pl n

  1. ordinary clothes, as distinguished from uniform, as worn by a police detective on duty
  2. (as modifier)a plain-clothes policeman
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012