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

Gastelum rallied in the fourth frame, and briefly rocked Adesanya late in the round with a head kick that left many observers wondering if the upcoming fifth round would be a winner-takes-all affair. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 9 Feb. 2025

Suddenly, as if some omniscient observer had pressed play, the scene roared to life. —Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025

However, some observers see little or limited sway from China at present. —Simone McCarthy, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025

Some observers suggested parallels to the 1940s, when Palestinian infighting left them unprepared for the 1947 U.N. partition of Palestine and the subsequent war. —Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

observe + -er entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing observer

• casual observer
• inter-observer