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
Chief Rai said that the man was arrested after initially being apprehended by bystanders.
—
Jim Morris and Rob Gilles, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Apr. 2025
Video circulating on social media shows a young man in a black hoodie with his back against a chain-link fence, alongside a security guard, surrounded by bystanders screaming and swearing at him.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Rai later confirmed that the suspect was apprehended by bystanders before the VPD arrived at the scene.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 27 Apr. 2025
According to reports, gang members paid bystanders to hop on their vehicles—an apparent attempt to superficially boost their numbers.
—Antón Barba-Kay, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bystander
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Jim Morris and Rob Gilles, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Apr. 2025
Video circulating on social media shows a young man in a black hoodie with his back against a chain-link fence, alongside a security guard, surrounded by bystanders screaming and swearing at him.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Rai later confirmed that the suspect was apprehended by bystanders before the VPD arrived at the scene.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 27 Apr. 2025
According to reports, gang members paid bystanders to hop on their vehicles—an apparent attempt to superficially boost their numbers.
—Antón Barba-Kay, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 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 2 May. 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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