noun
observer; spectator; member of the public (in court)
Primarily used in legal contexts for a person who attends a trial or hearing as an observer from the gallery. Can also refer to a spectator at other formal proceedings or public events, but the core sense is courtroom-related.
裁判の傍聴人は静かに審理を見守っていた。
The courtroom observers quietly watched the proceedings.
傍聴人として法廷に入るには、事前に手続きが必要です。
To enter the courtroom as a spectator, you need to complete procedures in advance.
観客 is a general audience or spectator at performances, sports, etc., whereas 傍聴人 is specifically for formal proceedings like trials.
Compound of 傍 (beside, nearby) + 聴 (listen) + 人 (person), literally 'person who listens from the side'. The term is used in legal contexts for a person attending a trial as an observer.