Definition

Dressed in regular clothes instead of a uniform, often used by police or security personnel to blend in with the public.

Example

The plainclothes officer was able to catch the thief without being noticed.

Conversation

Did you see that guy in the park yesterday?

Yeah, he looked so suspicious in his plainclothes.

I know, right? I thought he might be a detective or something.

It's definitely possible; they often work in plainclothes to blend in.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Plainclothes → It is formed from "plain" (from Old French *plain*, meaning flat or clear) and "clothes" (from Old English *clāþas*, meaning garments). The term "plainclothes" refers to garments that are simple and not uniform, typically worn by undercover police officers or detectives.

Memory Tip

Think of 'plain' meaning simple or clear, and 'clothes' referring to garments. This helps you remember that 'plainclothes' means wearing simple, non-uniform garments.

Visually Confused Words