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

FNPPs require suitable sites, grid connections, customers, regulatory and environmental pathways, operating arrangements and long-term service support. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026

Kiyoshi Ota | Bloomberg | Getty Images Nvidia plans to hike prices for some of its largest customers, Bloomberg News reported Saturday. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026

Solid gold is both precious and long-lasting, customers are more intentional with their purchases. — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Duke Energy reported 45,000 customers in the state were without power at the height of the storm, more than half of them in the Charlotte area. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 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