plainclothesman
Americannoun
-
plainclothesmen
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of plainclothesman
First recorded in 1925–30; plain clothes + man
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
MVD plainclothesman rushed the Burmese soldier to try to stop the picture.
From Time Magazine Archive
The quest is professional: Isaac Sidel is first deputy police commissioner, a plainclothesman eaten by dreams and ravaged by a tape worm fastened to his entrails.
From Time Magazine Archive
If ever a screen character was ripe for self-parody, Eastwood's tough plainclothesman is, and he makes the most of his opportunity.
From Time Magazine Archive
One Workers' Defense League observer was seized and searched, and when he asked the plainclothesman to identify himself, received the reproving answer: "Why don't you want to be a gentleman?"
From Time Magazine Archive
The plainclothesman in front of her flashed a badge, showed a search warrant, and brusquely asked Mary for permission to enter.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
A squad of plainclothesmen that happened to be nearby was ordered to respond to the call.
From US News ● Aug. 8, 2014
Thousands of police in riot gear were deployed to protect cinemas with plainclothesmen also inside the halls.
From Reuters ● Feb. 12, 2010
A few hours after that performance, Kirk, his aides, his troopers and his plainclothesmen all deserted the place and there was little likelihood that they would be coming back.
From Time Magazine Archive
The city labors under omnipresent police, armed cops patrolling the streets of the industrial zone, gun-toting guards standing sentry in factory doorways, plainclothesmen nosing into every stranger's business.
From Time Magazine Archive
He too stood in lengthy conference with the two plainclothesmen, and then with Leon, and finally with Leon and Mrs. Tallis.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
