spotter

noun

spot·​ter ˈspä-tər How to pronounce spotter (audio)
Synonyms of spotternext
1
: one that makes or applies a spot (as for identification)
2
: one that looks or keeps watch: such as
a
: one that locates enemy targets
b
: a civilian who watches for approaching airplanes
c
: a person who assists another during exercise (as to prevent injury)
3
: one that removes spots
4
: one that places something on or in a desired spot

Examples of spotter in a Sentence

When you lift weights, you should always have a spotter.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Crew anchor off Misool, a mid-oceanic squiggle of emerald islands, where the Imperial Japanese Navy hid from American spotter planes during WWII. Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026 On the Orange County side of the tollway, there is a booth for each direction, where when manned the spotter looks out for cheaters and can give a heads-up to a California Highway Patrol officer who can cite the offenders. Jim Radcliffe, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026 Weather spotters reported dust storms near Yuma, Burlington and the Bonny Dam and Reservoir, the National Weather Service said. Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026 The University of Maryland’s Yaseen Taha [right] pilots a spotter drone while Brian Tran looks on. IEEE Spectrum, 24 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spotter

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spotter was in 1611

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spotter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spotter. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

spotter

noun
spot·​ter ˈspät-ər How to pronounce spotter (audio)
1
: a person who removes spots
2
: a person who keeps watch : observer
3
: a person who helps another during exercise (as to prevent injury)

More from Merriam-Webster on spotter

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