English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj

plainclothes

Plainclothes (adj) means wearing ordinary civilian clothing rather than a uniform, especially of police officers. Example: “Two plainclothes detectives watched the building from across the street.”

adj
1
Wearing ordinary civilian clothing rather than a uniform, especially of police officers.
"Two plainclothes detectives watched the building from across the street."

How to use plainclothes

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes police or security staff dressed as ordinary civilians rather than in uniform, usually to avoid being noticed.

Common pairings
plainclothes officer plainclothes detective
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “plainclothes” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Two _____ detectives watched the building from across the street.

Rhymes for plainclothes

See all rhymes for plainclothes →

Frequently asked questions

What does “plainclothes” mean?

The word “plainclothes” means wearing ordinary civilian clothing rather than a uniform, especially of police officers. In plain terms, describes police or security staff dressed as ordinary civilians rather than in uniform, usually to avoid being noticed.

How do you use “plainclothes” in a sentence?

Here is “plainclothes” used in a sentence: “Two plainclothes detectives watched the building from across the street.”

What part of speech is “plainclothes”?

“Plainclothes” is an adjective.

What is the meaning of plainclothes?

"plainclothes" (adj) means wearing ordinary civilian clothing rather than a uniform, especially of police officers.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial