spotter

S1P3O1T1T1E1R1
UK/ˈspɒt.ə/US/ˈspɑ.tɚ/

noun

A person who observes something.

Less commonScrabble 9

Meanings

nounspotter (plural spotters)

plural spotters

  1. A person who observes something.
  2. A member of a sniper team who in addition to this function is responsible for providing additional information about targets from a different point of view.
  3. climbingOne who supervises a person performing an activity, in order to help them should they be unable to complete it.

    Due to a spotter's lack of action in holding the weight when a lifter lost her balance, the lifter badly pulled some muscles.

    1981 December 12, Melissa Wills, “Moving Metal”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 21, page 10
  4. USA person who gives directions for a crane or vehicle (that is challenging to navigate) from a different point of view to the moved load.

    Synonyms: banksman, dogman, lookout, observer, signalman

  5. Dolphins of the genus Stenella, and specifically Stenella attenuata distinguished from the streaker (Stenella coeruleoalba) and the spinner (Stenella longirostris).

    Synonyms: spotted dolphin

  6. hobbiesA team member responsible for communication with the driver to keep them up-to-date about on-track events, such as other nearby cars.

    Synonyms: observer

  7. broadcastingA person employed to assist a sports presenter by identifying the players or events during a game.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA person who gives directions for a crane or vehicle (that is challenging to navigate) from a different point of view to the moved load.

nounDolphins of the genus Stenella, and specifically Stenella attenuata distinguished from the streaker (Stenella coeruleoalba) and the spinner (Stenella longirostris).

nounA team member responsible for communication with the driver to keep them up-to-date about on-track events, such as other nearby cars.

Similar

More synonyms by meaning

nouna person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

nounsomeone who is the first to observe something

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*(s)pel-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*splt-no-
  3. Proto-Germanic*spluttaz
  4. Proto-West Germanic*splott
  5. Old Englishsplott
  6. Middle Englishspot
  7. Middle Dutchspotteinflu.
  8. Middle Englishsplotinflu.
  9. Englishspot
  10. Englishspotter

From spot + -er.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan vigilant, dofí tacat tropical
  • vigilantperson who gives directions for a crane
  • dofí tacat tropicaldolphin of the genus Stenella
  • observadormilitary: supporting sniper
  • observadorsports: exercise supervisor
Finnish havaitsija, tarkkailija
  • havaitsijaperson who observes
  • tarkkailijaperson who observes
  • alamiesperson who gives directions for a crane
  • suippokuonodelfiinidolphin of the genus Stenella
  • täplädelfiini (S. attenuata)dolphin of the genus Stenella
  • tähystäjämilitary: supporting sniper
  • varmistajasports: exercise supervisor
German Einweiser, Fleckendelfin
  • Einweiserperson who gives directions for a crane
  • Fleckendelfindolphin of the genus Stenella
  • Beobachtermilitary: supporting sniper
  • Waffensystemoffiziermilitary: supporting sniper
  • Kampfbeobachtungsoffiziermilitary: supporting sniper
  • Übungshelfersports: exercise supervisor
Hungarian figyelő, megfigyelő
  • figyelőperson who observes
  • megfigyelőperson who observes
  • felderítőperson who observes
  • lesőperson who observes
  • segítősports: exercise supervisor
  • felügyelősports: exercise supervisor
  • sportfelügyelősports: exercise supervisor
  • spottersports: exercise supervisor
Polish obserwator, obserwatorka
  • obserwatorperson who observes
  • obserwatorkaperson who observes
  • nawigatorperson who gives directions for a crane
  • nawigatorkaperson who gives directions for a crane
  • delfinekdolphin of the genus Stenella
  • informatormotor racing: team member responsible for communication with the driver
  • informatorkamotor racing: team member responsible for communication with the driver
  • snajper pomocniczymilitary: supporting sniper
  • asekurantsports: exercise supervisor
  • asekurantkasports: exercise supervisor
  • asekuratorsports: exercise supervisor
  • asekuratorkasports: exercise supervisor
Portuguese golfinho-pintado
  • golfinho-pintadodolphin of the genus Stenella
Spanish amantero
  • amanteroperson who gives directions for a crane
Swedish förman, Stenella-delfin
  • förmanperson who gives directions for a crane
  • Stenella-delfindolphin of the genus Stenella
  • spanaremilitary: supporting sniper
  • utkikmilitary: supporting sniper
  • spottersports: exercise supervisor

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with spotter

All rhymes →

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

spotter. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spotter

MLA

“spotter.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spotter. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spotter,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spotter.

Source: spotter on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.