passersby

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'passersby' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to people who are simply walking past, not necessarily stopping or interacting with anyone. Example sentence: People walking along the streets were an array of passersby.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Open Wireless Router will also allow small businesses and home users to let guests and passersby get an internet connection if they need one, while maintaining a secure, password-protected portion of their network.

The Guardian - Tech

The tense atmosphere was broken by passersby who gave protesters fruit and cakes, and a friendly police officer who corrected a spelling mistake in chalking on the pavement: "Trying to help homeless evicted on Christmas Eve".

The Guardian

Walking back towards the station on a freezing December morning, I begin vaping the shisha, avoiding eye contact with passersby.

The Guardian

Moffett's killing was witnessed by a large group of passersby, including a number who took mobile phone photographs of his body and circulated them around Northern Ireland via texts and emails.

The Guardian

Acres of dense vegetation and few main roads keep out passersby.

The Guardian

The squatters have draped banners outside the building with slogans including "seized by the people for the people" and say they have been speaking to passersby who have been largely supportive.

The Guardian

And you!" through a megaphone at a procession of delighted passersby.

The Guardian

And if Farage does not win South Thanet, will he just slink off back into his cave, nursing a pint, occasionally venturing out to stop passersby in the street in the hope that he can convince them that he isn't really posh, not in the true sense of the word?

The Guardian - Opinion

Nishant Sinha, a schoolteacher from the state of Manipur, says everyone, from passersby to his own pupils, calls him "Chinky".

The Economist

(Incidentally, Mr Wood is a friend, although my admiration for his reporting is unrelated; I once tagged along with him to a Westboro protest in Dallas, and if the family was chastened by the stream of negative feedback they got from passersby, they sure didn't show it).Mrs Palin is obviously in a much different category than the Westboro clan, but we see some of the same effects.

The Economist

Alex Lifschutz, whose firm designed the space, says the building is glass-fronted so that passersby can see what's going on at all hours of the day.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene with many people, use "passersby" to quickly convey the idea of individuals briefly present and then gone.

Common error

Avoid using "passerby" when referring to multiple people; "passersby" is the correct plural form.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "passersby" is as a plural noun. It denotes multiple individuals who are traveling past a particular location or event. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples, showing it as the subject or object of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passersby" is a grammatically correct and very common plural noun used to describe people who are walking past a particular location. Ludwig AI examples show that it is most frequently found in news and media, encyclopedias, and formal business contexts. When using this term, remember that it is the plural form; the singular is "passerby". As the authoritative sources confirm, "passersby" effectively communicates the transient presence of individuals in a scene, with related terms including "pedestrians" and "bystanders", each with subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pedestrians

Replaces the term with a more general term for people traveling on foot.

people walking by

Uses a more descriptive and literal phrase.

those passing

Offers a shorter, more concise alternative.

individuals going past

Replaces "people" with "individuals" for a slightly more formal tone.

bystanders

Refers to people who are present but not directly involved.

wayfarers

An older term evoking the idea of travelers on a journey.

those in transit

Focuses on the act of moving from one place to another.

street traffic

Refers to a collective of people moving along the street.

passers-on

A more informal, less common alternative to "passersby".

neighbors

Uses the term to refer to nearby community members and residents who may be walking by.

FAQs

How to use "passersby" in a sentence?

"Passersby" is the plural form of "passerby" and refers to multiple people who are walking past a particular location. For example, "The artist sketched the "people walking by" in the park".

What can I say instead of "passersby"?

You can use alternatives like "pedestrians", ""people walking by"", or "bystanders" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "passerby" or "passersby"?

"Passerby" is the singular form, referring to one person. "Passersby" is the plural form, referring to multiple people.

What's the difference between "passersby" and "bystanders"?

"Passersby" specifically refers to people walking past a location. "Bystanders" refers to people who are present at an event or incident but not directly involved; they may or may not be moving.