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

Searchlights swept the Southern sky, and flashbulbs popped as 18,000 spectators crowded Peachtree Street. — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026

Cinequest suggests that much of the improvement comes from existing moviegoers attending more frequently, rather than from a substantial influx of new spectators. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026

Michael Pickett, chief of the Birmingham Police Department, said most spectators and families had left the stadium property after the game, but the shooting happened nearby, where vendors were set up along Graymont Avenue. — Eric MacK , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

What began with just 25 competitors has since grown into a major celebration, with nearly 300 people registered to race this year and approximately 8,000 spectators attending according to WTOP. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 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