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

Additionally, a limited number of 6-7 stickers will be available for the first 100 customers at each Crumbl location. —Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025

Part sports bar, part rugrat-friendly hangout, Coa Cantina will target casual food-and-drink customers in Barber Valley and beyond. —Michael Deeds december 4, Idaho Statesman, 4 Dec. 2025

Southwest risks losing loyalty among plus-size travelers to competitors like Alaska Airlines, which maintains its refund policy for extra seats for customers of size. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025

The drone delivery service can deliver packages weighing up to five pounds within an hour to customers who live within a seven- to eight-mile radius of one North Texas Amazon warehouse. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Dec. 2025

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