plainclothed
Not in uniform
Plainclothed describes someone, typically a police officer or security personnel, wearing ordinary civilian clothing rather than a uniform: plainclothed detectives, a plainclothed officer.
The point is concealment—to blend in rather than be recognized as authority.
Also spelled plain-clothed or as two words.
Not wearing prescribed garb
- off-dutyNot at work
- unmarkedHaving no visible identification
- casualRelaxed and informal
- unidentifiableCannot be determined
streetwear · everyday · ordinary · unremarkable · inconspicuous · anonymous · indistinguishable · mufti
Secretly engaged in espionage
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- investigatorOne who examines evidence
- operativeCovert field agent
agent · spy · sleuth · informant · stakeout · shadowing · tail · reconnaissance
nonuniformed
Not wearing prescribed garb
unidentifiable · streetwear · everyday · ordinary · unremarkable · inconspicuous · anonymous · indistinguishable · mufti
undercover
Secretly engaged in espionage
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- investigatorOne who examines evidence
operative · agent · spy · sleuth · informant · stakeout · shadowing · tail · reconnaissance · infiltration
plainclotheduniformed
Wearing prescribed outfit
marked · identifiable · overt · conspicuous · visible
- plainclothes officerNon-uniformed police agent
- plainclothes manUnmarked police officer