observer

American  

[uhb-zur-ver] / əbˈzɜr vər /

noun

1. someone or something that observes.

2. a delegate to an assembly or gathering, who is sent to observe and report but not to take part officially in its activities.

3. U.S. Air Force.

   1. a member of an aircrew, other than the pilot, holding an aeronautical rating.

   2. a person who maintains observation in an aircraft during flight.

4. Also called air observer,.  Also called aircraft observer.  U.S. Army. a person who serves in an aircraft as a reconnoiterer and directs artillery fire.

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observer British  

/ əbˈzɜːvə /

noun

1. a person or thing that observes

2. a person who attends a conference solely to note the proceedings

3. a person trained to identify aircraft, esp, formerly, a member of an aircrew

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Other Word Forms

• interobserver noun
• observership noun

Etymology

Origin of observer

First recorded in 1545–55; observe + -er ¹

Explanation

An observer is someone who watches or pays attention to something — if you're an observer of current events, you probably watch the news and read the newspaper every day to keep up with what's going on. You can be an accidental observer of something, like pedestrians who happen to witness an accident and become observers of it. Another kind of observer is one who notices things deliberately, like political observers who watch and comment on various events. Many newspapers once had the word observer in their names, from this second sense of the word. The verb observe has a Latin root, observare, which means "watch over, note, heed, or attend to."

Example Sentences

Dilapidated buildings and decaying signage may put off the casual observer.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Another longtime observer of IPOs, the University of Florida professor Jay Ritter, also thinks the 15-day fast entry to the Nasdaq 100 will foster a kind of slow-motion flipping.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

"Let's not draw any big conclusions," one observer said.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

In the Middle East, the Vatican said Pope Leo had turned down Trump’s invitation to join his Board of Peace last month, even as an observer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

In his life, Donald wrapped himself in a kind of quiet that, depending on the observer, signaled imbecility or a reservoir of mystery.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Related Words

• bystander
• onlooker
• viewer
• watcher
• witness