spectator

noun

spec·​ta·​tor ˈspek-ˌtā-tər 

spek-ˈtā-

1

: one who looks on or watches

2

: a shoe having contrasting colors with a perforated design at the toe and sometimes heel

spectator adjective

spectatorial

ˌspek-tə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

spectatorship

ˈspek-ˌtā-tər-ˌship 

spek-ˈtā-

noun

Synonyms of spectator

• observer
• viewer

Examples of spectator in a Sentence

The spectators lining the road cheered the racers on.

The accident attracted a large crowd of spectators.

I wasn't a participant in the preparations, merely a spectator.

Recent Examples on the Web

Korrey said the stock show is preparing for a move into a new facility this year, the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Livestock Center and The Legacy, promising an even more exciting experience for participants and spectators alike. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026

Single-day tickets for spectators are $30; registering to bid costs $200. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026

These events transform the center into a celebration of outdoor culture, drawing participants and spectators from across the region and beyond. —Bill Bootz, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026

Their endless touring included cultural touchstones like Woodstock, and perhaps their largest concert on their own in front of over 100,000 spectators in Englishtown, New Jersey in 1977. —Adam Levine, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from spectare to watch

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spectator

• spectator sport

Kids Definition

spectator

noun

spec·​ta·​tor ˈspek-ˌtāt-ər 

spek-ˈtāt-

: a person who looks on (as at a sports event)

spectator adjective