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
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.
Tooter’s ordeal ended Tuesday morning when a passerby on the highway spotted her car half-buried in the foliage below. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025 Beson left the vehicle and started walking south on County Highway D in a seemingly agitated state and refused a ride from a passerby. Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 13 Aug. 2025 Laura said a passerby saw the attempt in the front seat of his Prius and called 911. Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 24 July 2025 Firefighters were called to the area around 1 p.m. after a passerby called 911, said Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins with the Kansas City Fire Department. Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Passerby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passerby. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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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