consumer

[kuhn-soo-mer]

noun

1. a person or thing that consumes.

2. Economics.,  a person or organization that uses a commodity or service.

3. Ecology.,  an organism, usually an animal, that feeds on plants or other animals.

consumer

/ kənˈsjuːmə /

noun

1. a person who acquires goods and services for his or her own personal needs Compare producer

2. a person or thing that consumes

3. (usually plural) ecology an organism, esp an animal, within a community that feeds upon plants or other animals See also decomposer producer

consumer

1. A heterotrophic organism that feeds on other organisms in a food chain.

2. ◆ Herbivores that feed on green plants and detritivores that feed on decaying matter are called primary consumers. Carnivores that feed on herbivores or detritivores are called secondary consumers, while those that feed on other carnivores are called tertiary consumers.

3. Compare producer

consumer

1. Someone who purchases a good for personal use.

Other Word Forms

• consumership noun
• anticonsumer noun
• nonconsumer adjective
• preconsumer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of consumer¹

First recorded in 1375–1425, for the earlier sense “squanderer,” 1525–35 for the current sense; Middle English; consume + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Home Depot said a lack of storms in the third quarter weighed on its sales particularly for roofing, power generation and plywood and that a weak housing market and consumer uncertainty continued to hurt demand.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It was one of the largest private raises for a consumer brand in the United States this year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In a statement it said it would analyse whether the two "act as important gateways between businesses and consumers, despite not meeting the DMA gatekeeper thresholds for size, user number and market position".

Read more on Barron's

The government's energy price guarantee shielded consumers from the soaring cost, replacing the price cap and limiting average annual bills at £2,500 for a typical household.

Read more on BBC

It can now decide if consumer laws have been broken - rather than having to go through the courts.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• buyer 
• customer 
• purchaser www.thesaurus.com
• shopper 
• user