bystander
/ˈbɪstændər/ · bis.tan.der
noun
- A person who, although present at some event, does not take part in it; an observer or spectator. The bystander watched in horror as the accident unfolded.
- A person who is affected by or involved in a situation, but is not directly responsible for it. The bystander in the neighborhood was affected by the noise pollution from the construction site.
Did you know? The term 'bystander effect' was coined in 1964 to describe the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help someone in distress when there are other people present.