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Synonyms

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 observerU.S. Army. a person who serves in an aircraft as a reconnoiterer and directs artillery fire.


Other Word Forms

  • interobserver noun
  • observership noun

Etymology

Origin of observer

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“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

Another longtime observer of the Chinese military told AFP it was "not clear at all how to read it".

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026

At age 86, Mr. Bellocchio remains an angry observer of his country’s historic failures, but one who sustains his cool in the storytelling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Because Tycho was such a superb observer and had built such accurate instruments, this was the most sensitive search for parallax yet undertaken.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin