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
When the smoke cleared, Luis, Kevin, and an innocent bystander, Miguel Angel Ramirez, were all dead.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2026
According to a police report, Maxwell — seen in video filmed by a bystander — beat a man who tried to intervene during an argument Maxwell was having with a girlfriend.
—Lauren A. White, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
Immigration agents allegedly detained five people in Lawrence Tuesday, according to video and photos captured by bystanders, including Kinuwan.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
In another case in Charlotte, North Carolina, bystander video shows agents confronting two women who were following and recording immigration officers from inside their vehicle.
—Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bystander
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Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2026
According to a police report, Maxwell — seen in video filmed by a bystander — beat a man who tried to intervene during an argument Maxwell was having with a girlfriend.
—Lauren A. White, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
Immigration agents allegedly detained five people in Lawrence Tuesday, according to video and photos captured by bystanders, including Kinuwan.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
In another case in Charlotte, North Carolina, bystander video shows agents confronting two women who were following and recording immigration officers from inside their vehicle.
—Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bystander
Cite this Entry
“Bystander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bystander. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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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