Definition of plainclothes
(Entry 1 of 2)
: dressed in civilian clothes while on duty
—used especially of a police officer
plain clothes
nounDefinition of plain clothes (Entry 2 of 2)
: 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 a detective in plain clothes
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for plainclothes
The first known use of plainclothes was in 1822
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