passerby

noun

pass·​er·​by ˌpa-sər-ˈbī 

ˈpa-sər-ˌbī

plural passersby ˌpa-sərz-ˈbī 

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

The statement noted that a passerby administered CPR before first responders arrived. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026

Conservationists estimate that less than five percent of them are visible to the average passerby. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2026

There was also a QR code on a poster that provided a convenient means of collecting digital payment via any passerby’s smartphone. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Because of a language barrier, troopers needed a passerby to help translate Spanish to English, the warrant affidavit said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

passerby

noun

pass·​er·​by ˌpas-ər-ˈbī 

plural passersby ˌpas-ərz- 

: one who passes by