bystander

noun

by·​stand·​er ˈbī-ˌstan-dər 

: one who is present but not taking part in a situation or event : a chance spectator

innocent bystanders who were injured in the shooting

Synonyms of bystander

• observer
• spectator
• viewer

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

Some earlier assassins expected it of themselves, canceling plots that would have killed bystanders. — Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Moreno, Marciniw and Edy Gutierrez, a bystander who was on the ground, were killed. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026

Two station journalists, reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, were killed along with a bystander on the ground. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

However, further investigation revealed that bullet fragments struck both a police officer and the 34-year-old bystander, cops said Friday. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 12 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bystander

• commander
• expander
• highlander
• leander
• meander
• philander
• brander
• candor
• dander
• gander
• grander
• hander

Kids Definition

bystander

noun

by·​stand·​er -ˌstan-dər 

: a person standing near but taking no part in what is happening