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 customers who put off buying cars for the pandemic years due to inventory shortages at dealerships and inflation came back to sticker shock. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 26 July 2026

Even on days the business was closed, customers regularly stopped by hoping to grab a cup of water ice. — Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026

But that’s the reality for much of the underground network of pipes that deliver more than 400 million gallons of water daily to customers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

Nvidia said the project would provide an opportunity for potential customers in South Korea and around the world to secure AI computing capacity before the 200 megawatts of capacity is completed. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 25 July 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