A plain-clothes man is often associated with an undercover police officer, but there are several synonyms to describe this type of law enforcement personnel. Some of these include plainclothes officer, plainclothes detective, undercover agent, covert operative, and plain-duty officer. Each synonym refers to an individual who is not wearing a uniform and is working to investigate crimes while blending into the environment. These officers are often tasked with working specific cases that require a more discreet approach, such as gathering information on organized crime or conducting surveillance on a suspected criminal. Regardless of the synonym used, these officers are an essential part of law enforcement agencies' efforts to keep communities safe.