plain·clothes
ˈplān-ˈklō(t͟h)z 
: dressed in civilian clothes while on duty
—used especially of a police officer
: civilian clothes : the dress of an ordinary citizen
… he had brought in a stenographer, more cops, and an older man in plain clothes.—
E. L. Doctorow
—used especially in describing the clothes of a police officerE. L. Doctorowa detective in plain clothes
Examples of plainclothes in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
CBS News, 9 June 2020
The agents are part of the Ohio Investigative Unit, which is made up of plainclothes peace officers responsible for enforcing Ohio’s alcohol, tobacco and food stamp fraud laws.
—Sean McDonnell/akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati.com, 22 May 2020
Lomi Kriel, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2024
Several people in plain clothes who appeared to be associated with Phoenix police could be seen scouting the area.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 1 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for plainclothes 
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Adjective
In the early morning hours of February 4, 1999, Amadou was standing outside his building when four white plainclothes officers drove by.
—CBS News, 9 June 2020
The agents are part of the Ohio Investigative Unit, which is made up of plainclothes peace officers responsible for enforcing Ohio’s alcohol, tobacco and food stamp fraud laws.
—Sean McDonnell/akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati.com, 22 May 2020
Noun
Page oversaw operations including dispatch and evidence technicians, according to his interview with investigators and the city’s report into the shooting, and was in plain clothes that day.
—Lomi Kriel, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2024
Several people in plain clothes who appeared to be associated with Phoenix police could be seen scouting the area.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 1 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for plainclothes
Dictionary Entries Near plainclothes
Cite this Entry
“Plainclothes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plainclothes. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
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plainclothes
adjective
plain·clothes
ˈplān-ˈklōz, -ˈklōt͟hz
: dressed in civilian clothes while on duty
—used especially of a police officer
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