customer

noun

cus·​tom·​er ˈkə-stə-mər 

1

: one that purchases a commodity or service

The customer used a credit card for the purchase.

2

: an individual usually having some specified distinctive trait

a real tough customer

… let me give you the advice of an old and world-weary customer.

—Flannery O'Connor

Synonyms of customer

• client
• patron
• guest

Examples of customer in a Sentence

She is one of our best customers.

She's a pretty cool customer.

Recent Examples on the Web

And his customers, like Flora Tso, are already sold. —Itay Hod, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026

Moe Rewards members will also be automatically entered to win free burritos for a year with any National Burrito Day purchase, and 100 lucky customers can win. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026

Store expansions continue to shake-up where Charlotte supermarket customers shop. —Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026

Many luxury players have seen their business suffer over the past few years, following a boom in demand during Covid-19, which led to price hikes that alienated customers. —Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English custumer, from custume — see custom entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing customer

• cool customer
• customer base
• customer service
• paying customer
• regular customer

Kids Definition

customer

noun

cus·​tom·​er ˈkəs-tə-mər 

1

: one that buys a product or service

2

: individual entry 2 sense 2, fellow

he's a real tough customer

Legal Definition

customer

noun

cus·​to·​mer

1

: a person or business that purchases a commodity or service

2

a

: a person or entity having an account with a bank or on whose behalf the bank has agreed to collect items

b

: a person or entity for whom an issuer issues a letter of credit