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

That once-simple search box is now a generative system: anticipating needs, synthesizing answers and reshaping how consumers discover, evaluate and buy. —Dani Nadel, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

Chinese consumers may have paused luxury spending, but the country remains firmly in the sights of industry leader Louis Vuitton. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 1 July 2025

Cantwell said removing the moratorium marks a win for consumers throughout the U.S., who will continue to be protected by existing state AI laws and those that are yet to come. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 1 July 2025

The data also revealed a deep distrust among consumers for robotaxis, on which Tesla has staked its future. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 1 July 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