watcher

American  

[woch-er] / ˈwɒtʃ ər /

noun

• watchers
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• underwatcher
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• watchers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of watcher

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

watcher watchers

"Illness acts as a crossroads in a pontificate -- it either accelerates its momentum or diminishes its power," Vatican watcher Giacomo Galeazzi wrote in La Stampa daily on Thursday.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Michael Lichtman, 59, a longtime livestream watcher, was glad he drove up from Carlsbad and experienced the camaraderie.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

“They need to move pretty quickly to restore faith and confidence in this market,” said Timothy Ash, a senior sovereign strategist at BlueBay Asset Management and a close watcher of the Turkish economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Seven-time Grammy winner Madonna is a regular watcher of Chelsea's men's and women's teams and was at Stamford Bridge in October when the men's side beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Premier League.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026

The little cry came again and the watcher looked up the side of the hill to the dark cave.

From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck

According to market watchers, gas storage inflows have stalled as the heating season kicks off, with tanks only 74.9% full.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

As the Orange County whale watchers were enjoying their unusual brush with warm-water orcas, a kayaker to the north had a brush with a great white shark.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

I’ve seen this myself over the years, working with nonpartisan efforts to register young adults and train them as poll watchers.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

Vatican watchers say that Leo -- who spent two decades as a missionary in Peru -- is anxious to make the long journey, but will likely follow the recommendations of his doctors.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

His head, after he had straightened up again, was almost exactly level with the watchers at the window.

From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl

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Related Words

• onlooker

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