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.
According to the Oxnard Police Department report, a passerby heard crying from in a park bathroom. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 According to police reports, a passerby heard children crying in the women’s restroom and found the girls lying on the wet floor without any adults nearby. Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2025 The man then ran outside, and the officer fired a second shot toward the suspect, striking a passerby’s vehicle, according to court documents. Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 22 Sep. 2025 Once the children had been removed and law enforcement called, the passerby took the oldest child into the store in order to locate her mother. Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 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 1 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!