consumer

American  

[kuhn-soo-mer] / kənˈsu mər /

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.

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consumer British  

/ 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

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consumer Scientific  

/ kən-so̅o̅′mər /

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

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consumer Cultural  

1. Someone who purchases a good for personal use.

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of consumer

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

Compare meaning

How does consumer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• consumer vs. capital goods

Explanation

A consumer is someone who buys or consumes, or uses up, something. An economy could not keep functioning without consumers. Long before smorgasbords, shopping malls, or eBay, people craved pretty and tasty things. So those who spoke Latin invented the word consumere, which meant to use up, eat, or waste. Being a consumer doesn't necessarily mean you are squandering. We're all consumers when we go through the checkout line at the grocery store, for instance.

Example Sentences

The Italian label is pursuing a revamp strategy under a new executive and creative leadership, in an effort to rekindle consumer appetite for its designs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Australia’s government is taking steps to shore up fuel supply, including releasing emergency oil and seeking less consumer use.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

In addition, for years, consumer groups have warned that poor quality, dangerous products are being sold through online marketplaces to consumers searching for a deal.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Those include many consumer companies, credit card companies, and banks, which make more loans and conduct more corporate transactions when economic demand is growing.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

I'm done with my job as consumer advocate/health adviser.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Related Words

• buyer
• customer
• purchaser
• shopper
• user