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
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
Dorris jokingly put a dramatic hand to her heart and let go of her cane as bystanders laughed at her sweet reaction.
—
Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
The journalist later saw Yassin on the ground, injured and surrounded by Palestinians, including women and children, before he was carried by bystanders to an ambulance.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Nov. 2025
The bystander who was bitten took himself to the hospital, police said.
—Jose Fabian, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
He's known for taking on Second Amendment cases and represented Eli Dicken, a bystander who killed an active shooter in 2022 at the Greenwood Park Mall.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bystander
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Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
The journalist later saw Yassin on the ground, injured and surrounded by Palestinians, including women and children, before he was carried by bystanders to an ambulance.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Nov. 2025
The bystander who was bitten took himself to the hospital, police said.
—Jose Fabian, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
He's known for taking on Second Amendment cases and represented Eli Dicken, a bystander who killed an active shooter in 2022 at the Greenwood Park Mall.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bystander
Cite this Entry
“Bystander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bystander. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bystander
noun
by·stand·er
-ˌstan-dər
: a person standing near but taking no part in what is happening
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