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

Example Sentences

The government says it has strengthened powers by enabling plain clothes officers to inspect Blue Badges and confiscate those being used misused.

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Her bill requires law enforcement officers in plain clothes to display their agency, as well as either a badge number or name, with some exemptions.

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Outside plain clothes Qatari police sat smoking in an SUV.

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And because federal agents often dressed in plain clothes, there were a few cases in which activists mistakenly followed police officers home from work.

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San Bernardino County sheriff’s investigators in plain clothes searched the property, passing by a colorful kid’s bicycle leaning against a fence and a baby swing on the the porch.

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