Definition

Noun: A person who is walking past a place, especially by chance or without any particular involvement in what is happening there. The term specifically refers to someone who is temporarily in a location as they move from one point to another.

Examples

• The accident was witnessed by several passers-by who called for help.
• A kind passer-by helped her pick up the papers she had dropped.
• The street performer collected money in a hat from interested passers-by.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in legal, journalistic, or formal contexts to describe an incidental witness to an event.
• It can imply anonymity or lack of a prior connection to the scene or people involved.
  • The police are appealing for passers-by who may have seen the incident to come forward.

Variants and Related Words

• Passerby (noun): An alternative, often American, spelling of "passer-by". The plural is "passersby".
• Bystander (noun): A person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part. This is a close synonym but can imply a more stationary observer, whereas a "passer-by" emphasizes the act of passing.
• Pedestrian (noun): A person walking along a road or in a developed area. This is a more general term for someone on foot, not necessarily one who is casually passing a specific point.

Synonyms

• Bystander
• Onlooker
• Witness (in the context of seeing an event)

Notes on Usage

• The standard plural form is passers-by, where the main noun "passer" is pluralized. The variant "passerbys" is considered non-standard.
• It is typically written with a hyphen, though the hyphenated form "passer-by" is becoming less common in favor of the closed form "passerby".

Noun

1. a person who passes by casually or by chance