plainclothes
1 of 2adjective
plain·clothes ˈplān-ˈklō(t͟h)z 
: dressed in civilian clothes while on duty —used especially of a police officer
plain clothes
2 of 2noun
: 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 officer E. L. Doctorow a detective in plain clothes
Example Sentences
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 Taylor, 26, was at home with her boyfriend on March 13 when three plainclothes officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department arrived to execute a search warrant in a drug case. NBC News, 13 May 2020 Video taken in the East Village on Saturday shows a plainclothes officer tackling one man on the sidewalk as a crowd of bystanders looks on. Brianna Provenzano, refinery29.com, 4 May 2020 Kneeling on the top of Wright's back or neck to keep him down, the plainclothes officer started jawing and cursing at bystanders. Michael R. Sisak, USA TODAY, 4 May 2020 His plainclothes security agents loiter and listen in cafes and hotel lobbies. David D. Kirkpatrick, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2020 As Áñez and her entourage arrived, a soldier and a plainclothes bodyguard took up protective positions: one behind her, the other by a window overlooking the plaza. Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2020 Detective Vaughan Ettienne, a bodybuilder and veteran member of plainclothes anti-crime teams in Brooklyn, is also on the list. Joseph Goldstein, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2019 See More
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 Taylor, 26, was at home with her boyfriend on March 13 when three plainclothes officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department arrived to execute a search warrant in a drug case. NBC News, 13 May 2020 Video taken in the East Village on Saturday shows a plainclothes officer tackling one man on the sidewalk as a crowd of bystanders looks on. Brianna Provenzano, refinery29.com, 4 May 2020 Kneeling on the top of Wright's back or neck to keep him down, the plainclothes officer started jawing and cursing at bystanders. Michael R. Sisak, USA TODAY, 4 May 2020 His plainclothes security agents loiter and listen in cafes and hotel lobbies. David D. Kirkpatrick, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2020 As Áñez and her entourage arrived, a soldier and a plainclothes bodyguard took up protective positions: one behind her, the other by a window overlooking the plaza. Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2020 Detective Vaughan Ettienne, a bodybuilder and veteran member of plainclothes anti-crime teams in Brooklyn, is also on the list. Joseph Goldstein, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1856, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1822, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
plainclothes
adjective
plain·clothes ˈplān-ˈklōz, -ˈklōt͟hz
: dressed in civilian clothes while on duty —used especially of a police officer