spectator

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

spectatorship

2 of 2

noun (2)

spec·​ta·​tor·​ship

1

obsolete : the condition of being viewed or submitted for viewing

2

: the condition of being a spectator especially as distinguished from a participant

Synonyms of spectator

Noun (1)

• observer
• viewer

Examples of spectator in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

Bamba has now gone from interested spectator to collector to card shop owner. — Larry Holder, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Pacific time, It will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which holds over 100,000 spectators. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Little Village's Mexican Independence Parade did go on as planned last year, with no issue and much celebration, but some spectators said attendance was down because of fears regarding immigration raids and ICE detentions. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Green appeared in the parade, waving a conductor’s baton to spectators from a vehicle’s open roof. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Noun (2)

Latin, from spectare to watch

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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