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

Example Sentences

That’s on the back of an ongoing migration to online car buying, which currently accounts for only 2% of used-vehicle sales, “as consumers get more comfortable with purchasing online,” he said.

From MarketWatch

Many investors still don’t know about the industry or how consumers will adopt the technology.

From Barron's

The company last month cut its full-year outlook as consumers resisted its higher prices and tariffs weighed more heavily than expected on profit.

From The Wall Street Journal

Tech is taking a back seat to sectors such as healthcare, materials, and consumer discretionary.

From Barron's

Black Friday sales were higher than a year ago, both online and in stores as consumers continue to navigate an uncertain economic environment.

From Barron's

Related Words

• buyer
• customer
• purchaser
• shopper
• user