observer

noun

ob·​serv·​er əb-ˈzər-vər 

: one that observes: such as

a

: a representative sent to observe but not participate officially in an activity (such as a meeting or war)

b

: an expert analyst and commentator in a particular field

political observers

Synonyms

• bystander
• onlooker
• spectator
• viewer
• watcher

Examples of observer in a Sentence

According to one observer, the event was poorly organized.

The star is not visible to an observer without a telescope.

According to one military observer, this change comes after years of planning.

Observers say the economy is improving.

The class has an observer today, so please be on your best behavior.

Recent Examples on the Web

These pictures have one thing in common: They were purchased, market observers say, by clients who promised to pay a minimum price before the auctioneer had even picked up the gavel. —Zachary Small, New York Times, 19 May 2024

Viewed more than 93 million times on TikTok alone, the snippet first strikes the bewildered observer as an example of truth being stranger than fiction — an absurd but nonetheless plausible event in a dense urban setting where eccentric behavior is witnessed daily. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing observer

• casual observer
• inter-observer