off-duty

[ awf-doo-tee, -dyoo-, of- ]

adjective

1. not engaged in the performance of one's usual work:

   an off-duty police officer.

2. of, relating to, or during a period when a person is not at work.

Word History and Origins

Origin of off-duty¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Idioms and Phrases

see under on duty .

Example Sentences

PCs Jerome Beasley, 41, and Luke Robinson, 39, who are both attached to the Central West Command Unit, allegedly sexually assaulted the woman at a venue in central London on 21 April while they were off duty.

From BBC

The boy’s blood sugar level remained low throughout the nurse’s shift and he only recovered after she went off duty at 20:00.

From BBC

She said her partner punched her in her face, ripped her clothes and threw her into a wall in front of fellow officers at a social event when he was off duty.

From BBC

The force added the child was known to him and that there was a sexual element to the spanking, which happened when he was off duty.

From BBC

Hernandez’s latest run in with the law occurred a week ago when the native of Healdsburg allegedly started five fires white off duty: The Alexander fire on Aug. 15, the Windsor River Road fire on Sept. 8, the Geysers fire on Sept. 12 and the Geyser and Kinley fires on Sept. 14, according to Cal Fire law enforcement officials.

From Los Angeles Times