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

So now our only choice, to protect the state and utility customers from the worst hazards and liabilities these contracts pose, is to challenge the Commission's unlawful approval of these secret data center contracts in the courts. —Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026

An Orange County judge has denied a request by Tommy Zeigler — who has been on Florida’s death row for nearly 50 years — to throw out his convictions for the brutal murders of his wife, her parents and a customer at his furniture store and grant him a new hearing. —Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026

Synology has noted that customers often get HEVC support through end devices, but that support isn’t a given in consumer products, including PCs. —ArsTechnica, 20 Apr. 2026

Winn-Dixie isn’t owned by the digital company Palmetto Senior High School grad Jeff Bezos built, but for customers, the experience will be the same. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 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