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

Gary Wang, co-founder and chief technology officer of FTX, was sentenced to no time in prison on Wednesday, two years after the cryptocurrency firm collapsed and faced accusations of defrauding customers.

From Salon

Ofwat has new powers to prevent bonuses being funded from customer bills if the company is judged to have missed environmental or performance targets.

From BBC

Businesses have also warned customers will face higher prices, if they pass on the cost of tax rises announced in the Budget.

From BBC

An older customer refused to put on their heating or use hot water and cried down the line to the operator.

From BBC

In between the customers, vendors were constantly on the move, expertly moving buckets of flowers from nearby coolers onto the floor or stripping faded petals and leaves from new bunches of flowers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• client
• consumer
• patron
• purchaser