spotter

American  

[spot-er] / ˈspɒt ər /

noun

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

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

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

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

5. a person or thing that spots.

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

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

8. 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.

---

spotter British  

/ ˈspɒtə /

noun

1. 1. a person or thing that watches or observes

   2. ( as modifier )

      a spotter plane

2. a person who makes a hobby of watching for and noting numbers or types of trains, buses, etc

   a train spotter

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

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

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

6. films

   1. a person who checks against irregularities and inconsistencies

   2. a person who searches for new material, performers, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of spotter

First recorded in 1605–15; spot + -er ¹

Example Sentences

He would be driving a spotter car mounted with plate readers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ok was especially alarmed to see forklifts, which are responsible for a significant number of construction deaths, speeding around, often unaided by required spotters.

From The Wall Street Journal

A few plane spotters gathered outside the airport to watch Air Force Two take off.

From BBC

Now there’s spotters to make sure no hawks are nearby.

From Los Angeles Times

He adds that players should wear protective headgear - which many currently do not - and have spotters around to prevent their heads from hitting the ground.

From BBC

Related Words

• agent
• detective
• informer
• investigator
• mole
• operative
• secret agent
• secret service
• undercover agent