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
Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
She was whisked off the street in broad daylight by authorities in masks and plain clothes — and then to be detained and transferred with no charges is a major ramp-up of the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plainclothes
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Federal agents in plain clothes and face masks arrested her.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
She was whisked off the street in broad daylight by authorities in masks and plain clothes — and then to be detained and transferred with no charges is a major ramp-up of the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plainclothes
Cite this Entry
“Plainclothes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plainclothes. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
plainclothes
adjective
plain·clothes
ˈplān-ˈklōz, -ˈklōt͟hz
: dressed in civilian clothes while on duty
—used especially of a police officer
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share