spotter

[ spot-er ]

noun

1. a person employed to remove spots from clothing, especially at a dry-cleaning establishment.
2. (in civil defense) a civilian who watches for enemy airplanes.
3. Informal. a person employed to watch the activity and behavior of others, especially employees, as for evidence of dishonesty.
4. Military. an observer at a forward position who singles out targets for gunners.
5. a person or thing that spots.
6. (in small-arms practice firing) a small black disk attached to the target to make more prominent the places where a bullet has hit.
7. an assistant to a sportscaster who provides the names of the players chiefly involved in each play of a game, especially a football game.
8. Gymnastics, Tumbling. a person who is stationed in the most effective place to guard against an injury to a performer in the act of executing a maneuver.

spotter

/ ˈspɒtə /

noun

1. 1. a person or thing that watches or observes
   2. ( as modifier )

      a spotter plane

2. a person who makes a hobby of watching for and noting numbers or types of trains, buses, etc

   a train spotter

3. military a person who orders or advises adjustment of fire on a target by observations
4. a person, esp one engaged in civil defence, who watches for enemy aircraft
5. informal.
   an employee assigned to spy on his colleagues in order to check on their honesty
6. films
   1. a person who checks against irregularities and inconsistencies
   2. a person who searches for new material, performers, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of spotter¹

First recorded in 1605–15; spot + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The spotters communicate by radio, and the guided bombs read GPS coordinates for more accurate strikes.

From Popular-Science

Cloud spotters could see a catalogue of types slowly drifting across the blue.

From Washington Post

Laviolette said after the game that Samsonov was pulled by a concussion protocol spotter.

From Washington Post

If a tornado warning is issued for your location, it means a tornado has been indicated by radar or seen by a storm spotter and you should seek shelter immediately in the lowest floor of a strong building in an interior room.

From Washington Post

I think it was crucial that we had three dirt bikes and spotters constantly.

From Outside Online

"It's probably that cow-boy spotter of Norcross's, but he can't get away," Hatch was gritting—meaning Tarbell, probably.

From Project Gutenberg

He was still below the alleged spotter with its straw-stuffed observer when Tam dived for him.

From Project Gutenberg

Not the least dangerous of the many services the airplane is performing is that of the artillery “spotter.”

From Project Gutenberg

Or he may have to report the results of a mock bombardment, and thus prepare himself for the duties of the artillery “spotter.”

From Project Gutenberg

We were watching the top of the hill and saw the little L4 spotter planes flying low and directing the artillery fire.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agent
• detective
• informer
• investigator
• mole
• operative
• secret agent
• secret service
• undercover agent