observer

noun

ob·​serv·​er əb-ˈzər-vər 

: one that observes: such as

a

: a representative sent to observe but not participate officially in an activity (such as a meeting or war)

b

: an expert analyst and commentator in a particular field

political observers

Synonyms

• bystander
• onlooker
• spectator
• viewer
• watcher

Examples of observer in a Sentence

According to one observer, the event was poorly organized.

The star is not visible to an observer without a telescope.

According to one military observer, this change comes after years of planning.

Observers say the economy is improving.

The class has an observer today, so please be on your best behavior.

Recent Examples on the Web

Political observers are divided on what role Kennedy may ultimately have on the outcome of the presidential contest. —Brianne Pfannenstiel, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024

Compare this definition with this other one, made by an ‘artist,’ an ‘observer’ truly capable of aesthetic appreciation—by Stendhal, who once called the beautiful une promesse de bonheur. —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024

Here's What a Nuclear War Would Actually Look Like Agnew was one of the three physicists assigned to fly on the Hiroshima bombing mission as a scientific observer. —Annie Jacobsen, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024

Shanahan and general manager John Lynch were on-field observers Wednesday and focused most of their attention on the receivers, including Owens. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024

Yet despite this multiplicity, the nature of its new medium means that an inherently ambiguous character must be fixed to a specific performance, going from passive observer to active presence. —Alison Herman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024

Demographics play another role, observers say: There are notable Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities in different parts of the U.S. who have helped drive domestic attention on the conflict. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024

Weather permitting, observers in the path of totality may also be able to see wisps of the sun's outermost atmosphere, called corona. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024

Only observers in the path of totality will be able to experience the moon completely blocking the sun, darkening the sky and making the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, visible. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing observer

• casual observer
• inter-observer