Used in a Sentence

plainclothes

Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for plainclothes.

Editorial note

But the plainclothes policemen are everywhere, and they'll fine you on the spot if you're found breaking the rules.

Examples14
Definitions2
Parts of speech2

Quick take

Ordinary civilian clothes, rather than uniform.

Meaning at a glance

The clearest senses and uses of plainclothes gathered in one view.

noun

Ordinary civilian clothes, rather than uniform.

adjective

(usually of a police officer) Wearing ordinary civilian clothes instead of a uniform, in order to avoid detection.

Definitions

Core meanings and parts of speech for plainclothes.

noun

Ordinary civilian clothes, rather than uniform.

adjective

(usually of a police officer) Wearing ordinary civilian clothes instead of a uniform, in order to avoid detection.

Example sentences

1

But the plainclothes policemen are everywhere, and they'll fine you on the spot if you're found breaking the rules.

2

I've seen much quicker removals of defacements in parks across the city, by park officials to plainclothes police.

3

After all, many cops regularly go on duty in unmarked cars or in plainclothes.

4

They accidentally shoot bystanders or even other good guys by accident too (see the NY plainclothes policeman who was killed last week).

5

I'd rather see an armed plainclothes officer on every flight than be harassed at the airport.

6

> But the plainclothes policemen are everywhere, and they'll fine you on the spot if you're found breaking the rules.

7

It was undercover plainclothes detectives, so no dashcam.

8

No, I don't think saying you don't go to strip clubs to a plainclothes cop investigating the Strip Club Strangler actually makes you a criminal.

9

When testing cars, they have plainclothes buyers to buy the cars, as well (partly so that they're not subject to keeping companies happy to keep the review samples flowing).

10

Far right, far left, plainclothes cops, the completely insane, etc.

11

This differs from stories that I've heard, like how they used a plainclothes female agent yelling at him to throw him off so they could grab his laptop.

12

>In a mixed verdict, a federal judge awarded $3 million to the parents of an 18-year-old honor student shot and killed by plainclothes drug enforcement agents, but also determined that the authorities were not negligent in their actions.

Quote examples

1

Because the scenario you laid out for people randomly breaking the law in their daily life was "lying about ever going to strip clubs to someone who turned out to be a plainclothes cop".

Proper noun examples

1

Plainclothes detectives in NYC are even worse than regular cops, they're arrogant dickheads that think they're above the law.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.

How do you use plainclothes in a sentence?

But the plainclothes policemen are everywhere, and they'll fine you on the spot if you're found breaking the rules.

What does plainclothes mean?

Ordinary civilian clothes, rather than uniform.

What part of speech is plainclothes?

plainclothes is commonly used as noun, adjective.