plain clothes

noun

Civilian clothes worn by someone in an occupation or organization for which a uniform might be expected, as the police or clergy.

Similar
civilian clothingcivilian dresscivilian garb
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Meanings

nounplain clothes pl (plural only)

alternative plain-clothes

  1. pluralplural onlyCivilian clothes worn by someone in an occupation or organization for which a uniform might be expected, as the police or clergy.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounordinary clothing as distinguished from uniforms, work clothes, clerical garb, etc.

Similar
civilian clothingcivilian dresscivilian garb
Broader
clothingarticle of clothingvesture

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

plain clothes. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plain%20clothes

MLA

“plain clothes.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plain%20clothes. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “plain clothes,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plain%20clothes.

Source: plain clothes on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.