bystander

noun

by·​stand·​er ˈbī-ˌstan-dər How to pronounce bystander (audio)
: one who is present but not taking part in a situation or event : a chance spectator
innocent bystanders who were injured in the shooting

Examples of bystander in a Sentence

Two innocent bystanders were injured in the shooting. bystanders rushed to help the victim of the mugging
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to Bowers while speaking to local Fox affiliate KTVU, a bystander had gotten out of his car and pulled the surviving occupant out from the mangled vehicle. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 Body camera footage from Fannin County Sheriff’s Office shows Brittany Patterson, then 41, being confronted and arrested at home on Oct. 30 by deputies hours after a bystander reported seeing her son in public alone. Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024 Responding officers and a bystander who witnessed the fire pulled Ibe from her vehicle, and she was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, according to Newsday. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 25 Nov. 2024 Eventually, the officer was able to pull the driver out as another officer and a bystander arrived to help, WBNS added. David Chiu, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bystander 

Word History

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bystander was in 1584

Dictionary Entries Near bystander

Cite this Entry

“Bystander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bystander. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

bystander

noun
by·​stand·​er -ˌstan-dər How to pronounce bystander (audio)
: a person standing near but taking no part in what is happening

More from Merriam-Webster on bystander

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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