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

• account
• client
• guest
• patron
• punter [chiefly British]

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 avoid vendors with vague policies or those unwilling to commit to protecting customer data. —Arjun Bhatnagar, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Just a few days ago, Pitaro revisited the concept during an appearance on Don Yaeger’s Corporate Competitor Podcast, emphasizing that while the new DTC offering may siphon off customers from the linear-TV channel, ESPN will remain vigilant about protecting the old school cable ecosystem. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Dec. 2024

Southern California Edison warned customers in Malibu to prepare for potential power cuts Tuesday evening to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

Thanks to its diverse demographic, Orlando is a prime location for the new brand launch, and the Saucy app (available on the App Store and Google Play) has 30 points of personalization to account for customer preference. —Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Dec. 2024

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
• 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