bystander
noun
by·stand·er
ˈbī-ˌstan-dər 
: one who is present but not taking part in a situation or event : a chance spectator
innocent bystanders who were injured in the shooting
Examples of bystander in a Sentence
Two innocent bystanders were injured in the shooting.
bystanders rushed to help the victim of the mugging
Recent Examples on the Web
Off to the side, bystanders appear to provide first aid to a person lying on the ground.
—
Michael Collins, USA Today, 3 June 2025
The story now circulating with ever greater popularity is that Jackson was an innocent bystander in the 1919 World Series fix.
—Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
One bystander borrowed someone’s boogie board and headed out in the gulf, where yellow flags were flying to indicate moderate surf and currents, the sheriff’s office said.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 29 May 2025
Officers responded to the parking lot of an Idaho Pizza Company off of Fairview Avenue in Meridian around 7:45 p.m. Sunday after a bystander reported seeing the child crying and visibly sweating inside the vehicle, according to a news release from the Meridian Police Department.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bystander
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Michael Collins, USA Today, 3 June 2025
The story now circulating with ever greater popularity is that Jackson was an innocent bystander in the 1919 World Series fix.
—Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
One bystander borrowed someone’s boogie board and headed out in the gulf, where yellow flags were flying to indicate moderate surf and currents, the sheriff’s office said.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 29 May 2025
Officers responded to the parking lot of an Idaho Pizza Company off of Fairview Avenue in Meridian around 7:45 p.m. Sunday after a bystander reported seeing the child crying and visibly sweating inside the vehicle, according to a news release from the Meridian Police Department.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bystander
Cite this Entry
“Bystander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bystander. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bystander
noun
by·stand·er
-ˌstan-dər
: a person standing near but taking no part in what is happening
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share