consumer

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

Updated on: 14 Apr 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

—

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

As part of a consent decree agreed to in 2011 after the FTC charged it with deceptive practices, Facebook promised to be more transparent with consumers about the data that were gathered and shared publicly.

— The Economist, "Mr Zuckerberg goes to Washington," 11 Apr. 2018
Most breeders used to reserve all of their puppies and younger dogs for pet-store brokers and consumers.

— author: kim kavin, Anchorage Daily News, "Dog rescuers, flush with donations, buy animals from the breeders they scorn," 11 Apr. 2018
With the advent of the microhospital and healthplex, consumer-minded providers are making strides toward delivering truly accountable patient care.

— rita e. numerof, STAT, "Microhospitals and healthplexes offer a peek at the future of health care," 10 Apr. 2018
Thus, consumers will be offered as few as 26 design combinations instead of more than 300 that could be ordered previously, depending on the global market.

— phoebe wall howard, Detroit Free Press, "New Ford Focus unveiled overseas, made in China, Germany," 10 Apr. 2018
With its roots in hardware and business software, Oregon tech rarely produces tech companies focused squarely on consumers.

— mike rogoway, OregonLive.com, "Giftango founder David Nelsen returns with new Portland startup, Bumped," 10 Apr. 2018
With so many travel options these days, there is certainly a demand among consumers for more aggregation.

— andrew j. hawkins, The Verge, "Uber acquires dockless bike-share startup Jump," 9 Apr. 2018
As a consumer demographic, U.S. Hispanics have become an economic powerhouse.

— rene rodriguez, miamiherald, "Telemundo’s new headquarters embraces the future. It may transform this area, too | Miami Herald," 9 Apr. 2018
And, crucially, evian is sending out a strong message to the consumer that plastic bottles have evolved from a waste product to a valuable resource—so, recycle, recycle, recycle.

— National Geographic, "Changing the Way We Think About Plastics," 9 Apr. 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.