You’re writing up a report, a news caption, or even just a text about something you saw on the street, and suddenly you freeze on one small word. Was it three “passerbys” who saw the accident? Or “passersby”? Maybe even “passerbyers”? It’s one of those everyday words that looks simple until you actually have to spell its plural.
This tiny grammar hiccup matters more than it seems. Getting it wrong in a report, article, or professional email can quietly chip away at your credibility, even if the rest of your writing is polished. Compare the difference in tone: “Several passersby confirmed the details” reads as clean and professional, while “A bunch of randoms walking by saw it too” is casual enough for a text to a friend but completely wrong for a workplace document.
This article breaks down the correct plural form, when to use the word at all, and over a dozen natural alternatives you can reach for depending on your audience and tone.
Quick Answer Box
The correct plural is passersby, not “passerbys” or “passerbyers” — neither of those forms exists in standard English. This is because “passerby” is a compound noun where “passer” is the main noun being pluralized, not “by.” If you want simpler or more natural-sounding alternatives, try bystander, onlooker, witness, or pedestrian depending on context.
What Does “Passersby” Mean?
In plain English, a passerby is someone who happens to be walking past a particular place, usually by chance rather than on purpose. Think of someone who just happens to be on the sidewalk when something newsworthy or unusual happens nearby.
Grammatically, “passerby” is a compound noun formed from the verb phrase “to pass by.” Because “passer” is the head noun, it takes the plural ending, giving us “passersby” (sometimes hyphenated as “passers-by”). The word “by” stays fixed, since it functions more like a preposition attached to the noun.
Close synonyms include bystander, onlooker, and pedestrian, though each carries a slightly different shade of meaning. For an opposite-tone example, compare the formal “Passersby were asked to give statements to police” with the informal “Some people walking past just started filming it.”
Sample sentences: A curious crowd of passersby gathered outside the store after the alarm went off. Two passersby helped the injured cyclist until the ambulance arrived.
When to Use It
| Setting | Fit |
|---|---|
| Spoken English | ⚠️ Use with caution — often replaced with “people walking by” |
| Business/meetings | ✅ Works well in incident or safety reports |
| ✅ Works well, especially in formal or documented communication | |
| Social media | ⚠️ Use with caution — can sound stiff for casual captions |
| Academic writing | ✅ Works well in sociology, urban studies, and legal contexts |
Formality/Tone Assessment
“Passersby” sits comfortably in the neutral-to-formal range. It isn’t rude or overly strong, and it isn’t especially warm or friendly either — it’s simply factual and observational, which is exactly why it works so well in reports, journalism, and official statements.
Practical etiquette tip: avoid using “passersby” in casual conversation or texting, since it can sound oddly formal or even a little dramatic among friends. Save it for writing where precision and professionalism matter.
Pros and Cons
✔ Instantly recognized and understood by any English speaker ✔ Sounds neutral and objective, ideal for reports and news writing ✔ Works in both spoken and written formal English ✔ Avoids naming or judging the people involved ✔ Fits legal, journalistic, and academic contexts smoothly
✘ Can sound stiff or old-fashioned in casual conversation ✘ Its irregular plural spelling trips up many writers ✘ Overused in news writing, making it feel like a cliché ✘ Doesn’t specify how many people were actually involved ✘ Some readers confuse it with “passerbys,” which looks more “logical” but is incorrect
Main Alternatives List
Neutral & Descriptive
Bystander — someone standing near an event without taking part in it. “A bystander recorded the whole thing on their phone.” Best for: news, everyday writing. Avoid in: legal statements needing precision.
Onlooker — a person watching something happen out of curiosity. “Onlookers crowded around the fallen tree.” Best for: descriptive or narrative writing. Avoid in: strict legal reports.
Pedestrian — a person walking, especially in traffic contexts. “The pedestrian crossed just as the light changed.” Best for: traffic and safety writing. Avoid in: general storytelling.
Spectator — someone watching an event, often planned. “Spectators lined the street for the parade.” Best for: events, sports. Avoid in: accident or crime reports.
Person on the street — an everyday, approachable phrase for a random individual. “A person on the street offered to help carry the boxes.” Best for: casual journalism. Avoid in: formal legal writing.
Formal & Legal/Journalistic
Eyewitness — someone who personally saw an event occur. “An eyewitness described the car’s speed to police.” Best for: legal and news reports. Avoid in: casual chat.
Member of the public — a formal, distancing term for an ordinary citizen. “Members of the public are urged to come forward.” Best for: official statements. Avoid in: friendly or creative writing.
Observer — someone who watches attentively, often in a professional sense. “An observer noted the unusual behavior of the crowd.” Best for: academic and analytical writing. Avoid in: casual speech.
Third party — someone uninvolved but present. “A third party confirmed the timeline of events.” Best for: legal documents. Avoid in: storytelling.
Witness — a broader term for anyone who saw something happen. “The witness gave a detailed statement to the officer.” Best for: legal and formal contexts. Avoid in: vague or unconfirmed sightings.
Casual & Conversational
Some people walking by — a natural, spoken-English substitute. “Some people walking by actually stopped to help.” Best for: everyday conversation. Avoid in: formal reports.
Folks on the street — a friendly, informal alternative. “Folks on the street were pretty shocked, honestly.” Best for: casual storytelling. Avoid in: academic writing.
Randoms — very casual slang for unknown people nearby. “A couple of randoms filmed it for social media.” Best for: texting, informal chats. Avoid in: any professional context.
People passing through — describes those briefly present in an area. “People passing through the square paused to watch.” Best for: travel or lifestyle writing. Avoid in: legal statements.
Whoever was around — a vague, relaxed phrase for unspecified onlookers. “Whoever was around at the time got quite a show.” Best for: casual anecdotes. Avoid in: formal writing.
Warm, Narrative & Literary
Passing strangers — evokes a fleeting, human connection. “Passing strangers paused to admire the street musician.” Best for: creative and reflective writing. Avoid in: technical reports.
Wanderers — suggests people moving without a fixed destination. “A few wanderers stopped to watch the sunset with us.” Best for: poetic or descriptive writing. Avoid in: business communication.
Strollers — people walking leisurely, not in a hurry. “Strollers along the boardwalk stopped to feed the ducks.” Best for: lifestyle and travel content. Avoid in: legal or urgent contexts.
Townspeople — residents of a local area, used in community-focused writing. “Townspeople gathered to watch the annual parade.” Best for: local news, storytelling. Avoid in: describing strangers in a big city.
Curious crowd — a group drawn together by interest in an event. “A curious crowd formed within minutes of the commotion.” Best for: descriptive journalism. Avoid in: precise legal counts.
Passerby Plural
The plural form of passerby is passersby. This is because passerby is a compound noun made from passer and by, and the main word, passer, changes to its plural form. Therefore, when referring to more than one person who is passing by, passersby is the standard and grammatically correct form. For example, you might say, “Several passersby stopped to watch the street performance.” The form passerbys is generally considered incorrect.
Passersby or Passerbys in a Sentence
When using the plural form of passerby in a sentence, passersby is the correct choice rather than passerbys. The word refers to people who happen to be walking or traveling past a particular place. For example, “The loud noise attracted the attention of several passersby.” Here, passersby correctly indicates more than one person. Remember that the plural is formed by changing passer to passers, while by remains unchanged.
Passersby or Passerbys Reddit
On Reddit and other online platforms, you may sometimes see people using passerbys instead of passersby. However, the standard English plural form remains passersby. Since compound nouns can sometimes be confusing, people may naturally add -s to the end of the whole word, producing passerbys. Although this form may appear in casual online writing, it is not the preferred standard form. For formal, educational, and professional writing, use passersby.
Passerby Synonym
A passerby is a person who is passing near or past a particular place, especially without stopping. Common synonyms include pedestrian, bystander, onlooker, walker, and person passing by, depending on the context. For example, pedestrian is suitable when referring specifically to someone walking in a public area, while onlooker describes someone watching an event. The best synonym depends on what the person is doing and the situation in which the word is being used.
Passersby in a Sentence
The word passersby is used when referring to two or more people who are passing by a particular place. For example, “The street musician entertained many passersby during the afternoon.” In this sentence, passersby refers to several people who happened to walk past the musician. Another example is, “Several passersby helped the injured man.” The word is commonly used in everyday English, news writing, stories, and descriptions involving people moving through public places.
Comparison Table
| Phrase | Tone | Best Context | Formality Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passersby | Neutral | Reports, news, formal writing | Formal |
| Bystander | Neutral | Everyday and news writing | Neutral |
| Eyewitness | Serious | Legal and police statements | Formal |
| Member of the public | Distant | Official announcements | Very Formal |
| Onlooker | Descriptive | Narrative and feature writing | Neutral |
| Folks on the street | Friendly | Casual storytelling | Informal |
| Randoms | Playful | Texting, social media | Very Informal |
| Passing strangers | Reflective | Creative and personal writing | Neutral-Formal |
Mini Dialogue Examples
Formal dialogue Officer: “Were there any passersby who might have seen the collision?” Manager: “Yes, two eyewitnesses have already given their statements.”
Informal dialogue Alex: “Did anyone even see what happened?” Sam: “Yeah, a couple of randoms filmed it on their phones.”
Email-style example Subject: Incident Report — Front Entrance, Sept 8 Hi team, please note that several passersby witnessed the incident near the main entrance yesterday afternoon. Two of them have agreed to provide written statements for our records.
Mistakes to Avoid
Writing “passerbys” instead of the correct plural “passersby.” Inventing nonstandard forms like “passerbyers,” which isn’t a recognized word. Using an apostrophe incorrectly, such as “passerby’s,” when referring to more than one person. Choosing an overly casual term like “randoms” in a professional or legal report. Overusing “passersby” repeatedly in one piece of writing when a synonym like “bystander” or “onlooker” would read more naturally. Mixing formality levels, such as pairing “eyewitness” with slang in the same sentence. Assuming hyphenation is optional in every style guide — some publications strictly require “passers-by.”
Cultural and Tone Tips
In UK English, “passers-by” is commonly hyphenated, and this spelling still appears frequently in British newspapers and formal writing. In US English, “passersby” is typically written as one word without a hyphen, especially in journalism and everyday publishing. On social media and in casual writing, simpler alternatives like “people walking by” or “randoms” tend to feel more natural than the more formal “passersby.”
Conclusion
Small grammar details like the plural of “passerby” might seem minor, but they quietly shape how polished and credible your writing appears, whether it’s a police report, a news article, or a professional email. Knowing that “passersby” is correct — and that alternatives like bystander, onlooker, and eyewitness each carry their own shade of tone — gives you far more control over how your writing sounds.
The best way to make these words stick is to practice using a few of them in your own writing this week, paying attention to how the tone shifts from formal to casual. For more help mastering tricky plural forms like this one, check out our related guide on irregular plural nouns in English on DefineGrammar.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the plural form of a passerby?
The plural form of passerby is passersby. The word changes from “passerby” to “passersby” because “passer” is the part that becomes plural, while “by” remains unchanged. For example: Several passersby stopped to watch the accident.
What is the meaning of passersby?
Passersby means people who are passing a particular place or moving past someone or something. It is the plural form of “passerby.” For example, The street performer attracted many passersby means many people walking past stopped to watch the performance.
Is there a hyphen in passersby?
No, passersby is normally written as one word without a hyphen. The singular form is passerby, and the plural form is passersby. Therefore, forms such as “passers-by” are generally not preferred in modern standard English.
What is the plural possessive form of “passerby”?
The plural possessive form of passerby is passersby’s when showing possession by multiple passersby. For example: The passersby’s reactions were surprising. However, if referring to something belonging to one passerby, use passerby’s.
Abdur Rehman is an English language writer and grammar enthusiast with over 5 years of experience in English Grammar, Word Meanings, Vocabulary, and everyday language usage. He creates clear, practical, and easy-to-understand content to help readers improve their English skills with confidence.
