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.
Some bystander and manager trainings have shown success. Susan Madsen, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 Some of those bullets might not have penetrated the tire or ricocheted, presenting serious danger to the officers and innocent bystanders. Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 22 Feb. 2025 The kid never seems to complete a job without dropping a few innocent bystanders on his way out the door, so Dolinski’s employers ask him to teach him the type of discretion that’s required to enjoy a long career in the murder-for-hire industry. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2025 The video was captured by a bystander who saw the plane coming in to land, with a perpendicular view of the runway. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Bystander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bystander. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

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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