Definitions

off duty

[awf-doo-tee, -dyoo-, of-] / ˈɔfˈdu ti, -ˈdyu-, ˈɒf- /

ADVERB

not working

Synonyms

WEAK

at liberty on furlough on holiday on leave on one's own time on sabbatical on vacation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Prosecutors said the 40 -year-old did this while off duty and on sick days to earn cash on the side of his day job.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Platner pleaded ignorance—claiming that he had gotten inked with insignia while drunk and off duty in Croatia, and didn’t understand the horrific context until much later.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

The allegations are said to have taken place both on and off duty between August 2024 and January 2025.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025

“We are committed to ensuring accountability for actions both on and off duty, as public trust is earned through transparency, responsibility, and adherence to the law.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2025

Maddie was going off duty by the time the ambulance men had finished hurriedly patching up the German pilot and brought him into the ground floor office of the control tower.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein