bystander
Uninvolved nearby person
A bystander is someone present at an event without participating in it—a witness or onlooker.
The word often appears in contexts of accidents, crimes, or emergencies: Several bystanders called 911.
An innocent bystander is harmed by events they had nothing to do with.
The bystander effect describes the tendency for people to avoid intervening when others are present, each assuming someone else will act.
Person who observes
- observerOne who perceives events
- watcherOne who observes
- viewerOne who observes visually
- witnessOne who attests
crowd · audience · rubbernecker · gawker · passerby · pedestrian · neighbor · stranger
Not taking part
- inactiveNot currently functioning
- idleWithout activity or purpose
- passiveNot actively participating
- nonparticipantOne not involved
unengaged · standing · watching · frozen · hesitant · silent · motionless · inaction
One who attests
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- eyewitnessOne who saw events
- accountRecord of dealings
- statementExpressed claim or fact
corroboration · identification · credibility · evidence · deposition · courtroom · trial · prosecution
Passive molecular spreading
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- apathyAbsence of feeling
- indifferenceLack of interest
- inactionDeliberate nonmovement
Genovese · psychology · conformity · groupthink · anonymity · urban · emergency · crisis
One who intervenes against injustice
- helperOne who aids another
- rescuerOne who saves others
- intervenerOne who comes between
- SamaritanSamaria's religious community
courage · action · assistance · aid · prevention · responsibility · duty · training
onlooker
Person who observes
witness · crowd · audience · rubbernecker · gawker · passerby · pedestrian · neighbor · stranger · civilian
uninvolved
Not taking part
nonparticipant · unengaged · standing · watching · frozen · hesitant · silent · motionless · inaction · paralysis
witness
One who attests
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- eyewitnessOne who saw events
- accountRecord of dealings
statement · corroboration · identification · credibility · evidence · deposition · courtroom · trial · prosecution · defense
diffusion
Passive molecular spreading
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- apathyAbsence of feeling
- indifferenceLack of interest
inaction · Genovese · psychology · conformity · groupthink · anonymity · urban · emergency · crisis · unresponsive
upstander
One who intervenes against injustice
- helperOne who aids another
- rescuerOne who saves others
- intervenerOne who comes between
Samaritan · courage · action · assistance · aid · prevention · responsibility · duty · training · awareness
- bystandersonlooker, observer, spectator, watcher, viewer
- background extraspedestrian, sports fan, party guest, wedding guest, diner
- character typesprotagonist, hero, antagonist, villain, heroes
- observersobserver, watcher, onlooker, spectator, viewer
- perspectivesviewpoints, viewpoint, point of view, POV, opinions
- spectatorsviewer, watcher, onlooker, observer, audience
bystanderparticipant
One who takes part
participator · active participant · contributor · party · player
bystanderprotagonist
Story's central figure
principal · perpetrator · instigator · victim · central figure
bystanderintervener
One who comes between
rescuer · upstander · Good Samaritan · helper · defender
- innocent bystanderUninvolved person harmed incidentally
- bystander effectInaction amid witnesses
- bystander interventionWitness taking helpful action