eyewitness

noun

eye·​wit·​ness ˈī-ˈwit-nəs 

: one who sees an occurrence or an object

especially : one who gives a report of what has happened

Examples of eyewitness in a Sentence

The police are hoping to locate an eyewitness to the shooting.

He was able to give an eyewitness account of the shooting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Kevin Hames — a detective inspector with East Midlands Special Operations Unit, which is leading the investigation — shared a glimpse into what authorities have gathered so far, and urged any remaining eyewitnesses to come forward. —Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025

As a photojournalist, my job is to provide an eyewitness account of what is happening and a visual context. —Time Photo Department, Time, 23 Dec. 2025

To underscore the intensity surrounding the case, the motion includes graphic eyewitness accounts describing Kirk being struck in the neck, blood pouring from his wound and crowds dropping to the ground in terror. —Stepheny Price , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025

But eyewitness accounts abound, and scholars have made careful and respectful reconstructions. —Christian Goodwillie, The Conversation, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eyewitness

• fitness
• witness
• unfitness

Kids Definition

eyewitness

noun

eye·​wit·​ness -ˈwit-nəs 

: a person who sees an occurrence and is able to give a report of it

Legal Definition

eyewitness

noun

eye·​wit·​ness

: one who sees an occurrence or object or sometimes experiences it through other senses (as hearing) and usually reports or testifies about it