customer

[kuhs-tuh-mer]

noun

1. a person who purchases goods or services from another; buyer; patron.

2. Informal.,  a person one has to deal with.

   a tough customer; a cool customer.

customer

/ ˈkʌstəmə /

noun

1. a person who buys

2. informal,  a person with whom one has dealings

   a cool customer

Word History and Origins

Origin of customer¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; custom + -er ¹; compare Middle English customer “collector of customs,” from Anglo-French; Old French costumier, cognate with Medieval Latin custumārius; customary

Idioms and Phrases

see ugly customer.

Example Sentences

Carvana Co. is a “true disruptor,” with an online platform and customer experience that positions it to gain market share in the large but fragmented used-car market.

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Over the next 12 months, Moore said “customers’ biggest anxiety” revolves around getting enough of Nvidia’s products, especially with its upcoming Rubin AI platform.

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The US-based company, which is owned by car rental giant Avis Budget, told customers it will temporarily suspend new bookings after 31 December, pending the outcome of a consultation with its 71 staff members.

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Still, it secured a flagship customer for its Comanche Peak nuclear plant in Texas.

Read more on Barron's

Decreases in new orders and order backlogs—two of the four demand indicators—more than offset gains posted by the indexes charting new export orders and customer inventories, Spence said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• client 
• consumer 
• patron 
• purchaser www.thesaurus.com