noun
a detective who wears civilian clothes on duty (Freq. 2)
• Hypernyms: ↑detective, ↑investigator, ↑tec, ↑police detective
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\(ˈ) ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷mən, -ˌman, -ˌmaa(ə)n\ noun (plural plainclothesmen) : a policeman who wears civilian clothes while on duty : detective
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/playn"klohz"meuhn, -man', -klohdhz"-/, n., pl. plainclothesmen /-meuhn, -men'/.
a police officer, esp. a detective, who wears ordinary civilian clothes while on duty.
Also, plainclothes man.
[1925-30; PLAIN CLOTHES + MAN1]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.