watcher

American  

[woch-er] / ˈwɒtʃ ər /

noun

1. a person who watches or who keeps watch.

2. an analytic observer of trends, fashions, events, celebrities, or the like.

   Fashion watchers will have noted that pleats have become popular again.

3. a professional or experienced observer and analyst of political and historic trends and events, countries, or the like.

   China watchers in the State Department predict a change in that country's trade policy.

4. poll watcher.

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watcher British  

/ ˈwɒtʃə /

noun

1. a person who watches

2. a person who maintains a vigil at the bedside of an invalid

3. a representative of a candidate or party stationed at a poll on election day to watch out for fraud

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Other Word Forms

• underwatcher
  noun

Etymology

Origin of watcher

First recorded in 1500–10; watch + -er ¹

Example Sentences

But Mike O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading and a noted Buffett watcher, said he’s not worried.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

Longtime Berkshire watcher Chris Bloomstran of Semper Augustus Investments in St. Louis does an annual estimate, and his latest earlier this year was $855,000 per share—21% above the current stock price.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Staring into the camera, they lock eyes with us, powerfully blurring the line between watcher and watched and reminding us that today the surveillance state is more powerful—and expansive—than it was then.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

From her home in Belfast, Steph's a regular watcher of the bar's stream, known for its karaoke.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

Just north of Mole’s Town they came upon the third watcher, carved into the huge oak that marked the village perimeter, its deep eyes fixed upon the kingsroad.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Related Words

• onlooker