observer
/əbˈzɝvɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.91 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
One who makes observations, monitors or takes notice.
noun
One who adheres or follows laws, guidelines, etc.
noun
A person sent as a representative, to a meeting or other function to monitor but not to participate.
noun
A country or other entity which has limited participation rights within an organization.
noun
A crew member on an aircraft who makes observations of enemy positions or aircraft.
noun
A sentry etc. manning an observation post.
Example Sentences
- "Most impartial observers agreed that Sampras had not served well."
- "Between 8 and 9 p.m., the recorder at a meteorological station at Harrow, Middlesex, picked up 1,470 lightning flashes within a radius of 10 to 15 miles, and observers at the station described the storm as "probably one of the most spectacular of the century.""
- "I shall be an observer of the local customs."
- "The UN sent many observers to the country's first elections."
- "When the army reached Tsun-i, an enlarged Politburo meeting was called. Teng attended as an observer."
- "The Vatican and Palestine have observer status at the UN."
Etymology
Etymology tree English observe Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English observer From observe + -er.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /əbˈzɝvɚ/
- British English: /əbˈzɜːvə/