plainclothes officer
Disguised law enforcement
A plainclothes officer is a police officer who wears civilian clothing rather than a uniform while on duty.
The term typically describes officers conducting surveillance, undercover work, or investigations where a uniform would be conspicuous: A plainclothes officer observed the drug deal from across the street.
Also called a plainclothesman, though that form is declining.
- undercoverSecretly engaged in espionage
- deep coverProlonged covert infiltration
- street clothesOrdinary daily attire
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- police workCrime investigation and prevention
surveillance · stakeout · unmarked car · badge · disguise · cover blown · informant · investigation · unmarked · covert · shadowing · bust · incognito · tail · wiretap · narcotics · vice · drug bust
- crime fighterscop, detective, sheriff, investigator, marshal
- law enforcementFBI, police station, patrolmen, cop, beat cops
- Lawmensheriff, constable, marshal, deputy, lawman
- policecop, patrol, cops, police departments, detective
- spiesJames Bond, spy, Jason Bourne, secret agent, Ethan Hunt
- watcherswatcher, birdwatchers, watchman, lookout, sports fans
plainclothes officerbeat cop
Officer assigned regular route
patrol officer · traffic cop · motorcycle cop · riot police · mounted police
plain, plainly, plainness, plains, plainer, plainest, cloth, cloths, clothe