Observer

//əbˈzɝvɚ// noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun

1
One who makes observations, monitors or takes notice.
"Most impartial observers agreed that Sampras had not served well."
2
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses wordnet
3
One who adheres or follows laws, guidelines, etc.
"I shall be an observer of the local customs."
4
an expert who observes and comments on something wordnet
5
A person sent as a representative, to a meeting or other function to monitor but not to participate.
"The UN sent many observers to the country's first elections."

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6
A country or other entity which has limited participation rights within an organization.
"The Vatican and Palestine have observer status at the UN."
7
A crew member on an aircraft who makes observations of enemy positions or aircraft.
"The only crew-member to survive the crash was the Canadian observer."
8
A sentry etc. manning an observation post.
"We waited till dusk when the observers' vision was poorest."

Synonyms

beholder beholder perceiver spectator ace air force

Antonyms

Example

"The fact is apparent to the most casual observer."

Etymology

From observe + -er.

Related phrases

Sabbath observer electoral observer observer pattern participant observer observation post observer pattern someone watching

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.