consumer

noun

con·​sum·​er kən-ˈsü-mər 

often attributive

: 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 sense 3

consumership

kən-ˈsü-mər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of consumer in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The nation faces myriad economic challenges, including deflation, local governments drowning in debt, poor consumer spending, plummeting real estate values, record youth unemployment, and a demographic time bomb. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025

Although the coin makes up less than 1% of the stablecoin market, PayPal recently took measures , both internally and in its partnership with Coinbase , to increase the coin’s use and boost on-chain payment opportunities for consumers and institutional users. —Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 29 May 2025

Separately, consumer boycotts also have been led by The People's Union, which organized a one-day economic blackout of all consumer spending Feb. 28. —Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 29 May 2025

Just not big enough to stop it The ruling triggered an immediate relief rally late Wednesday and into early Thursday across sectors from tech to consumer staples and retailers. —Catherine Baab, Quartz, 29 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see consume

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing consumer

• anti-consumer
• consumer confidence
• consumer credit
• consumer debt
• consumer durables
• consumer goods
• consumer price index

Rhymes for consumer

• perfumer
• antitumor
• pseudotumor
• boomer
• humor
• humour
• plumer
• rumor
• rumour
• tumor
• tumour

Kids Definition

consumer

noun

con·​sum·​er kən-ˈsü-mər 

1

: one that consumes

especially : a person who buys and uses up goods

2

: a plant or animal that requires complex organic compounds for food which it obtains by preying on other living things or eating particles of organic matter compare producer sense 3

Legal Definition

consumer

noun

con·​sum·​er

: one that utilizes economic goods

specifically : an individual who purchases goods for personal use as distinguished from commercial use