observer

Noun

1. One who makes observations, monitors or takes notice.
   • 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...

   Synonyms: beholder observator

   Antonyms: observee

2. One who adheres or follows laws, guidelines, etc.
   • I shall be an observer of the local customs.
3. A person sent as a representative, to a meeting or other function to monitor but not to participate.
   • 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. - 1985, Ching Hua Lee, “Becoming Mao's Man (1931-1935)”, in Deng Xiaoping: The Marxist Road to the Forbidden City,...
4. A country or other entity which has limited participation rights within an organization.
   • The Vatican and Palestine have observer status at the UN.
5. A crew member on an aircraft who makes observations of enemy positions or aircraft.
   • The only crew-member to survive the crash was the Canadian observer.
6. A sentry etc. manning an observation post.
   • We waited till dusk when the observers' vision was poorest.
7. Synonym of spotter.

   Synonyms: spotter