watcher

[ woch-er ]

noun

1. a person who watches or who keeps watch.
2. an analytic observer of trends, fashions, events, celebrities, or the like:

   Fashion watchers will have noted that pleats have become popular again.

3. a professional or experienced observer and analyst of political and historic trends and events, countries, or the like:

   China watchers in the State Department predict a change in that country's trade policy.

4. poll watcher.

ˈwatcher

/ ˈwɒtʃə /

noun

1. a person who watches
2. a person who maintains a vigil at the bedside of an invalid
3. a representative of a candidate or party stationed at a poll on election day to watch out for fraud

Other Words From

• under·watcher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of watcher¹

First recorded in 1500–10; watch + -er ¹

Example Sentences

There had also been reports of partisan poll watchers using hidden cameras to film election workers; one Republican-affiliated poll watcher was also caught filming outside a polling station, in violation of state law.

From Salon

The friendly driver who picked me was a lifelong Las Vegas Valley resident and UFC watcher to boot.

From Slate

She’s guided by her Watcher, Giles, and almost always works with her two best pals from high school to build a brainy, funny, supernatural coalition to close the Hellmouth threatening to swallow the town of Sunnydale.

From Salon

With a background in psychology Emma happily calls herself “a bit of a nosy people watcher”.

From BBC

Murphy is also the director, writer and producer behind series including Glee, Pose, The Watcher, Feud, American Horror Story, Hollywood and Ratched, and he created Monsters with Ian Brennan, who co-created Glee.

From BBC

Related Words

• onlooker