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

Example Sentences

DoorDash Co-Founder Stanley Tang will join Also as a board observer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

“There’s no historical precedent in modern California history for a governor’s race with such a large field or such an amorphous field of candidates,” said longtime political observer Dan Schnur.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

The untrained observer might also wonder why private companies with shareholders wouldn’t try to maximize profits by charging as much as they could.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

On both occasions, Beijing has been left on the sidelines as an observer, incapable of helping those within its orbit.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

They flew low, Mark the key observer, searching the ground below them as they passed.

From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner

Related Words

• bystander
• onlooker
• viewer
• watcher
• witness