consumer

noun, often attributive con·sum·er \ kən-ˈsü-mər \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Definition of consumer

: one that consumes: such as

a : one that utilizes economic goods

Many consumers make purchases on the Internet.

b : an organism requiring complex organic compounds for food which it obtains by preying on other organisms or by eating particles of organic matter — compare producer 3

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consumership

play \kən-ˈsü-mər-ˌship\ noun

See consumer defined for English-language learners

See consumer defined for kids

Examples of consumer in a Sentence

Many consumers are still not comfortable making purchases on the Internet.

Recent Examples of consumer from the Web

Cordray, appointed by President Barack Obama, was criticized by congressional Republicans as being overzealous but was lauded by consumer advocates for aggressively going after banks for wrongdoing.

— NBC News, "Trump to nominate OMB official to lead Consumer Financial Protection Bureau," 17 June 2018
Demand for meat alternatives has also risen sharply in Britain, with consumers spending $374.1 million in 2017, up 56.2 percent from $239.5 million in 2012.

— ceylan yeginsu, The Seattle Times, "What would Colonel Sanders say? KFC is working on vegetarian ‘fried chicken’," 11 June 2018
Any new companies will need to share a great deal more information with consumers.

— peter miller, STAT, "How early retail health clinics set the stage for today’s mega-mergers," 11 June 2018
Demand for meat alternatives has also risen sharply in Britain, with consumers spending $374.1 million in 2017, up 56.2 percent from $239.5 million in 2012.

— ceylan yeginsu, New York Times, "KFC Will Test Vegetarian ‘Fried Chicken,’ Original Herbs and Spices Included," 8 June 2018
The travel company should have refunded customers in less than 60 days since there was no dispute that the cruises were canceled, Harzog, the consumer advocate, said.

— rebekah l. sanders, azcentral, "Cruise company sails away with Mesa couple's $10,000," 7 June 2018
Bolthouse’s beverages also lost favor with consumers due to their high sugar content—a reminder that health fads can shift quickly.

— aaron back, WSJ, "The Right Way for Food Companies to Buy Their Way to Growth," 6 June 2018
The advisory board -- whose members include consumer advocates, academics and former bank executives -- was supposed to meet in Washington this week for one of the twice-yearly meetings required by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act.

— elizabeth dexheimer, Bloomberg.com, "Mulvaney Ousts CFPB Advisers After Canceling Meetings," 6 June 2018
Crude oil prices have soared this year, with consumers impacted at the pumps.

— CNN, "Brazil's President concedes to striking truckers' demands after week-long work stoppage," 28 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'consumer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.