noun

• A person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.

  ‘water cannons were turned on marchers and innocent bystanders alike’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Yet you are given the impression that the author was an innocent bystander to events which were supposed to have been under his control.’
  • ‘Several bystanders witnessed the incident and said that the appellant appeared calm afterwards.’
  • ‘Military officials have said the order to strike again would not have been given had many bystanders been present.’
  • ‘If bystanders are present, get them to phone for an ambulance at once.’
  • ‘The place was surrounded by the police and the crowd of bystanders discussed the events.’
  • ‘It is also the bystanders who watch the incidents of bullying and do nothing to stop them.’
  • ‘When these agents came on the scene, they gassed the innocent bystanders outside.’
  • ‘It is blatantly unethical to wreak vengeance upon innocent bystanders.’
  • ‘In fact, Michael even helps out an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.’
  • ‘Perhaps this is not an unusual event, but this incident has extra urgency - a bystander says he is carrying a gun.’
  • ‘Even organic products may kill these innocent bystanders if not used carefully.’
  • ‘The innocent bystanders ran out the door of the tavern, including the bar tender.’
  • ‘There's even a scene where a giant watermelon is menacingly thrust at an innocent bystander.’
  • ‘Don't think for a minute that management is an innocent bystander in all of this.’
  • ‘He found the account of the trial that proved her an innocent bystander, since she was a minor.’
  • ‘What about an innocent bystander who knows something but isn't actually carrying out an attack?’
  • ‘The road had not been closed and bystanders gathered to watch the events unfold.’
  • ‘Most striking about the photos is the presence of participants and bystanders.’
  • ‘The plaintiffs draw two distinctions between their position and that of spectators or bystanders.’
  • ‘As she stood on the platform, two helpful bystanders pointed out that she had misspelled liar.’

  Synonyms

  onlooker, passer-by, non-participant, observer, spectator, eyewitness, witness, looker-on, sightseer, watcher, viewer, gaper

  View synonyms