noun
observer; spectator; member of the public; visitor; audience; gallery
Refers to a person who attends a formal proceeding, meeting, or event as a non-participant, especially in legal or official contexts. Often used for courtroom spectators or public observers.
裁判の傍聴者は静かに見守っていた。
The courtroom spectators watched quietly.
傍聴者席は満席だった。
The public gallery was full.
観客 is a general audience for performances or sports, while 傍聴者 is specifically for formal or legal proceedings.
Compound of 傍聴 (attending as an observer) + 者 (person). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is conventionally associated with formal observation.