Showing results for "passer-by"

• a variation of passerby.

passer-by

British  

noun

1. a person that is passing or going by, esp on foot

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Explanation

A passer-by is someone who just happens to walk past something. If you trip and spill the contents of your backpack on the sidewalk, a kind passer-by will probably stop and help you gather your things. If you witness a car accident while you're walking to school, you're a passer-by, and if you stroll past someone who's juggling flaming torches on the sidewalk, you're also a passer-by. Before the mid-sixteenth century, the now-obsolete passager had the same meaning. Today, passer-by is a fairly straightforward word ("one who passes by"); its only slightly confusing aspect being the plural form, which is passers-by.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

passer-by

The bodies of Sarah and Mark Ratcliffe – a passer-by who tried to help – were recovered on Friday, shortly after they entered heavy seas in Withernsea, East Yorkshire.

From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2026

But after a "venomous" comment from a passer-by, Ms Wiggins said she wanted to remind people of the tradition's backstory.

From BBC ● Nov. 26, 2025

Another passer-by said it was a great idea.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2025

Mr Garner said the ambulance service discussed the incident but found no full report needed, after a passer-by gave the wrong-side-of-the-river address due to the app failing.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2025

She paused only a while in front of the ducks, which honked madly, the down flying as some passer-by bumped into their cages.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston

Related Words

• bystander
• observer
• witness