plainer

English

Pronunciation

• Homophones: planar, planer
• Rhymes: -eɪnə(ɹ)

Adjective

plainer

1. comparative form of plain: more plain

   Of the two, she was certainly the plainer.

Noun

plainer (plural plainers)

1. A policeman who wears plainclothes.
   • 2018, Alan Parks, Bloody January:

     Three pandas were parked round the edge of the wee swing park, lights spinning, flashing blue on a huddle of plainers over by the iron roundabout.

   • 2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 18:

     The plainer, he was from the Marine police station on Anderson Street and Davin or Devine or something was his name — said nothing.

   • 2022, Niall Illingworth, Hard Rain, Cold Hearts:

     A guy and a girl make ideal plainers; nobody gives them a second thought; people just assume they're a couple.

Anagrams

• pearlin, praline