passerby

noun

pass·​er·​by ˌpa-sər-ˈbī How to pronounce passerby (audio)
ˈpa-sər-ˌbī
plural passersby ˌpa-sərz-ˈbī How to pronounce passerby (audio)
ˈpa-sərz-ˌbī
: one who passes by
A passerby saw the accident and offered to help.

Examples of passerby in a Sentence

A passerby saw the accident and stopped to help. Passersby were asked if they were registered to vote.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The two human bones were discovered by a passerby in Penn Treaty Park near the Delaware River, who alerted police around 5 p.m. Sunday, the Philadelphia Police Department said in an email to USA TODAY. Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024 The couple were shot and killed by the Zodiac on Dec. 20, 1968, and their bodies were later discovered outside of their vehicle by a passerby. Nicole Briese, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024 The other day, in Madison Square Park, Gadsby was derailed mid-thought by the sound of a passerby rustling a paper bag. Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024 There were unexpected views too, like the occasional mooning from a passerby, but my most unforgettable encounters were the people on the train itself. Nayanika Guha, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for passerby 

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of passerby was in 1567

Dictionary Entries Near passerby

Cite this Entry

“Passerby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passerby. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

passerby

noun
pass·​er·​by ˌpas-ər-ˈbī How to pronounce passerby (audio)
plural passersby ˌpas-ərz- How to pronounce passerby (audio)
: one who passes by

More from Merriam-Webster on passerby

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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