1. a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part

Examples

• Several bystanders watched as the firefighters rescued the cat from the tree.
• The police interviewed bystanders who had witnessed the accident.
• She was just an innocent bystander caught up in the argument.
• Bystanders gathered around the street performer to watch his act.
• The robbery occurred in broad daylight with many bystanders present.
• He didn’t want to be a passive bystander when he saw someone being bullied.