customer

The word “customer” means a person or business that buys goods or services from a seller. In plain terms, someone who buys from a business, or (informally) a person of a certain sort.

“Customer” is pronounced KUHS-tuh-muh (/ˈkʌs.tə.mə/ in IPA).

Here is “customer” used in a sentence: “The store thanked its loyal customers with a discount.”

“Customer” is a noun.

The word “customer” comes from Old French. From Old French coustumier, "a toll-gatherer," from custom, "a tax or duty" — originally someone who collected customs duties, later shifted to mean a regular buyer.

“Customer” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Customer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person or business that buys goods or services from a seller.

A customer is the person or business that actually buys a product or service. A consumer is the one who uses it — and they are not always the same person. If you buy dog food, you are the customer but your dog is the consumer. Customers purchase; consumers consume.

Both buy from a seller, but the words differ in tone. Customer suits one-off or everyday purchases, like buying groceries. Client usually describes an ongoing, professional relationship involving advice or a service — the clients of a lawyer, accountant, or agency. Clients tend to receive more personal, sustained attention.

Businesses often group customers in several ways. There are new and returning customers, loyal regulars, and one-time buyers. Some distinguish potential customers, who might buy, from existing ones who already have. In business-to-business trade, the customer is another company rather than an individual shopper.