Definition

A police officer who wears regular clothes instead of a uniform while on duty, often to blend in with the public.

Example

The plainclothesman observed the crowd to catch any suspicious activity without being noticed.

Conversation

Did you see that guy at the café?

Yeah, he looked like a plainclothesman just sitting there.

I wonder what he was up to, maybe watching someone?

Could be! It's always interesting to spot them around town.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Plainclothesman → It is formed from "plain" (from Old French *plain*, meaning clear or flat) and "clothes" (from Old English *clāþas*, meaning garments) and "man" (from Old English *mann*, meaning person). The term refers to a person who wears ordinary clothing rather than a uniform, typically used to describe undercover police officers.

Memory Tip

Think of someone in 'clear' or 'ordinary' clothing ('plain') who is a 'person' ('man') wearing 'garments' ('clothes') — that's what a plainclothesman is.

Visually Confused Words