# passer

/ˈpæsɝ/ (US) · /pˈɑːsɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/passer
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a person who is walking past a specific place. You often use this to describe someone who happens to be nearby when something occurs.

For teachers: a person who moves past a particular location or event by chance. Often used in the compound form 'passer-by' to describe an incidental witness to an occurrence.

## Examples

- A kind passer helped me pick up my dropped groceries.
- The police are asking any passer who saw the accident to come forward with information.
- The street performer relied on the generosity of the occasional passer, though most people hurried toward the station without glancing at his hat.

## Pitfalls

- Not "three passer-bys" but "three passers-by" — In compound nouns formed with a preposition, the plural 's' is added to the noun, not the preposition.

## Usage notes

- Commonly appears as part of the compound noun 'passer-by' (plural: 'passers-by').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.