watcher
n. countablen. a person who observes or looks at something carefully over a long time. You often use this word for people who follow a specific topic, like politics or birds.
n. a person who observes or monitors something closely, often as a hobby or professional interest. Frequently used in compound forms or with a modifier to indicate the specific subject of observation.
The bird watcher waited quietly in the woods.
Political watchers are predicting a very close race in the upcoming local elections.
Market watchers remained cautious throughout the afternoon, noting that the sudden surge in trading volume might signal a larger shift in investor sentiment.
From Middle English wacchere, wachere, wacher, equivalent to watch + -er.
Often appears as the second element in compound nouns like 'birdwatcher' or 'trend-watcher'.