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

An adult bystander also suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to a finger, Battenfield said. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026

Shanahan’s 10th training camp as the 49ers’ coach began with him strictly a distant bystander during a 45-minute cameo. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 26 July 2026

Background figures count too, which means a synthetic bystander in a lifestyle scene falls inside the definition alongside a synthetic hero model. — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Both honors are typically reserved for local firefighters, nurses, and bystanders who step up in a crisis, not CEOs. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 24 July 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