PLAINCLOTHESMAN Definition & Meaning

plainclothesman

or plain·clothes man

[ pleyn-klohz-muhn, -man, -klohthz- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural plainclothesmen

a police officer, especially a detective, who wears ordinary civilian clothes while on duty.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of plainclothesman¹

First recorded in 1925–30; plain clothes + man

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He too stood in lengthy conference with the two plainclothesmen, and then with Leon, and finally with Leon and Mrs. Tallis.

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The plainclothesman in front of her flashed a badge, showed a search warrant, and brusquely asked Mary for permission to enter.

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Anyone could see Garner talking to a clutch of uniformed and plainclothesmen in front of a store on Bay Street, in Staten Island, on July 17th.

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A video filmed by TVB, a usually pro-government television station, showed a bearded man in a black T-shirt being led away by plainclothesman, his hands behind him.

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“The only people we get in here at night anymore is plainclothesmen,” Darlene said.

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