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Synonyms

viewer

American  
[vyoo-er] / ˈvyu ər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that views.

  2. a person who watches television, often a devotee of television or of a particular kind of television program.

    a weekly show aimed at teenage viewers.

  3. any of various optical devices to facilitate viewing, especially one that is small and boxlike with a magnifying lens, and sometimes a light source, in which a photographic transparency may be viewed.

  4. an eyepiece or viewfinder.

  5. an official inspector of property, public works, or the like.


viewer British  
/ ˈvjuːə /

noun

  1. a person who views something, esp television

  2. any optical device by means of which something is viewed, esp one used for viewing photographic transparencies

  3. law a person appointed by a court to inspect and report upon property, 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

Other Word Forms

  • nonviewer noun
  • underviewer noun
  • viewership noun

Etymology

Origin of viewer

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at view, -er 1

Vocabulary lists containing viewer

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 meticulous tracking of viewer behavior — not just what they watched but how they watched — became a key focus in the 1960s.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

In one slide, the league argued that having 32 teams negotiate their own rights deals individually would result in further viewer confusion and higher costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

The viewer follows five couples struggling to conceive as they attempt a three-month exercise in eliminating plastic from their lives.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

A prolonged absence or departure from the program would have disrupted viewer habits at a time when traditional TV is struggling to hold onto audiences who have a wide array of media choices.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Standing at either end of the long, handsome bronze coffin were two big, dark policemen, mostly looking straight ahead, but moving their lips when some viewer tarried.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey