passerby

noun

pass·​er·​by ˌpa-sər-ˈbī How to pronounce passerby (audio)
ˈpa-sər-ˌbī
plural passersby ˌpa-sərz-ˈbī How to pronounce passerby (audio)
ˈpa-sərz-ˌbī
: one who passes by
A passerby saw the accident and offered to help.

Examples of passerby in a Sentence

A passerby saw the accident and stopped to help. Passersby were asked if they were registered to vote.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Both may elicit fear in unsuspecting passerby. Literary Hub, 26 May 2026 One passerby had a fire extinguisher and used it to put out the blaze on the vehicle's undercarriage. Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 19 May 2026 The suspect was spotted in the area by a security guard at Sharp Memorial Hospital and a passerby. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026 Forty-five minutes later, a passerby came across the crash site and called 911, per the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office. Katie Mather, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for passerby

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of passerby was in 1567

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Cite this Entry

“Passerby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passerby. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

passerby

noun
pass·​er·​by ˌpas-ər-ˈbī How to pronounce passerby (audio)
plural passersby ˌpas-ərz- How to pronounce passerby (audio)
: one who passes by

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