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

/ 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

consumer

1. Someone who purchases a good for personal use.

Other Words From

• con·sumer·ship noun
• anti·con·sumer noun adjective
• noncon·sumer adjective noun
• precon·sumer 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

She appeared to be just a happy American consumer out shopping at a big-box store.

From The Daily Beast

Zumbiel Packaging A Kentucky-based manufacturer of paperboard packaging for consumer goods.

From The Daily Beast

These insights and discoveries help PepsiCo anticipate, rather than react to, an ever-changing consumer landscape.

From The Daily Beast

What tastes great to an American consumer may not be what folks in China or India would choose to eat or drink.

From The Daily Beast

At some point even the seemingly insatiable American consumer is going to have had his fill.

From The Daily Beast

But suppose that the consumer, for the things which he himself makes and sells, or for the work which he performs, receives more?

From Project Gutenberg

For a long time there were no contractors between the European sources of supply and the great consumer, the army.

From Project Gutenberg

The graduated scale was a complete failure, and equally injurious to the purchaser and consumer.

From Project Gutenberg

Sir, a consumer's delegation wishes to speak with you about the new Birthday Quotas.

From Project Gutenberg

Tell that bunch of complainers I'll keep this District's economy healthy if I have to jail every consumer in it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• buyer
• customer
• purchaser
• shopper
• user