observer
Americannoun
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someone or something that observes.
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a delegate to an assembly or gathering, who is sent to observe and report but not to take part officially in its activities.
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U.S. Air Force.
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a member of an aircrew, other than the pilot, holding an aeronautical rating.
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a person who maintains observation in an aircraft during flight.
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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.
Other Word Forms
- interobserver noun
- observership noun
Etymology
Origin of observer
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.
"The international community is really a passive observer... not an intended audience," he said.
From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026
That was the moment I stopped being only an observer.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 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
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
One observer noted that “the veteran of legal battles does not go in for fireworks or courtroom histrionics but he makes his points all the stronger for his quiet reserve.”
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
