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Seeing the difference: "witness" vs. "eyewitness"

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 10/10/2024, 14:23

English.me team member

Witness and eyewitness. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "witness" and "eyewitness" refer to a person who has seen an event take place, typically an event of significance such as a crime or accident, and can provide an account or testimony of it.

What is different?

An "eyewitness" specifically refers to someone who has directly seen an event with their own eyes, often implying firsthand observation. "Witness" is a broader term that can refer to someone who observes an event or provides testimony about something, not necessarily from direct visual experience.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for witness) and eyewitness

Examples of usage

Witness

The lawyer called the witness to testify in court.
She was a witness to the agreement between the companies.

Eyewitness

The detective interviewed the eyewitness who saw the accident.
As an eyewitness to the robbery, he was asked to describe the culprit.

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