spotter

[spot-er]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR spotter ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person employed to remove spots from clothing, especially at a dry-cleaning establishment.

(in civil defense) a civilian who watches for enemy airplanes.

Informal. a person employed to watch the activity and behavior of others, especially employees, as for evidence of dishonesty.

Military. an observer at a forward position who singles out targets for gunners.

a person or thing that spots.

(in small-arms practice firing) a small black disk attached to the target to make more prominent the places where a bullet has hit.

an assistant to a sportscaster who provides the names of the players chiefly involved in each play of a game, especially a football game.

Gymnastics, Tumbling. a person who is stationed in the most effective place to guard against an injury to a performer in the act of executing a maneuver.

Origin of spotter

First recorded in 1605–15; spot + -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for spotter

sentry, detective, recruiter, investigator, agent, informer, mole, operative, radar, gumshoe, sleuth, caretaker, patrolman, warden, custodian, policeman, outlook, observance, scene, watcher

Examples from the Web for spotter

Historical Examples of spotter

The spotter has to be the sort of man these ladies like, or else the Government will change his spots.
Ship-Bored
Julian Street
The Yankee spotter was in the treasure house of Ranch Robin.
Old Broadbrim Into the Heart of Australia
Author of "Old Broadbrim"
"Yes, you," said the spotter, scowling at the weak outlines of Croly's countenance.
The Sin of Monsieur Pettipon
Richard Connell
Alfabet was the only species of lizard on the pay roll—he was the West End spotter.
Held for Orders
Frank H. Spearman
You may be a spotter, for all I know, but I don't care a hang.
The Wreckers
Francis Lynde

British Dictionary definitions for spotter

spotter

noun

a person or thing that watches or observes
(as modifier)a spotter plane

a person who makes a hobby of watching for and noting numbers or types of trains, buses, etca train spotter

military a person who orders or advises adjustment of fire on a target by observations

a person, esp one engaged in civil defence, who watches for enemy aircraft

US informal an employee assigned to spy on his colleagues in order to check on their honesty

films

a person who checks against irregularities and inconsistencies
a person who searches for new material, performers, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012