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

The other victims, according to the officials, were either employees or bystanders. —Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026

The Nuggets shocked the NBA world with their defense, with a Bruce Brown fast break and with a tip from the supercomputer mind of Jokic, a bystander on the bench. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2026

Some bystanders began performing CPR. —Logan Smith, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026

Video shot by a bystander showed Bostic sprawled face down on the ground as an officer knelt on his back, pulling an arm back to handcuff him. —Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 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