plainclothesman

American  

[pleyn-klohz-muhn, -man, -klohthz-] / ˈpleɪnˈkloʊz mən, -ˌmæn, -ˈkloʊðz- /

Or plainclothes man

noun

plural

plainclothesmen

1. a police officer, especially a detective, who wears ordinary civilian clothes while on duty.

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Etymology

Origin of plainclothesman

First recorded in 1925–30; plain clothes + man

Example Sentences

He too stood in lengthy conference with the two plainclothesmen, and then with Leon, and finally with Leon and Mrs. Tallis.

From Literature

The plainclothesman in front of her flashed a badge, showed a search warrant, and brusquely asked Mary for permission to enter.

From Literature

Anyone could see Garner talking to a clutch of uniformed and plainclothesmen in front of a store on Bay Street, in Staten Island, on July 17th.

From The New Yorker

A video filmed by TVB, a usually pro-government television station, showed a bearded man in a black T-shirt being led away by plainclothesman, his hands behind him.

From New York Times

While the plainclothesmen had been coming in at night, she had been too worried and preoccupied to attend to this project for George.

From Literature