customer

noun

cus·​tom·​er ˈkə-stə-mər How to pronounce customer (audio)
1
: one that purchases a commodity or service
The customer used a credit card for the purchase.
2
: an individual usually having some specified distinctive trait
a real tough customer
… let me give you the advice of an old and world-weary customer.Flannery O'Connor

Examples of customer in a Sentence

She is one of our best customers. She's a pretty cool customer.
Recent Examples on the Web Lego may have retained its loyal customers post-pandemic , but its rivals like Hasbro and Mattel haven’t. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024 Our customers were widely scattered and difficult — that is to say, expensive — to identify. Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 12 Mar. 2024 Store manager Jennifer Gale hears the pop song's muffled chorus over and over again, usually followed by customers' excited screams, all day long. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 Boris & Horton is part of a growing number of restaurants and coffee shops that cater to four-legged customers across the United States — and around the world. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 The ban on cameras won’t go into effect before the company sees a huge surge in customers for the upcoming total solar eclipse. Chris Morris, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 However, their status as the new kid on the block shouldn’t be held against them, as this online casino has had no issue attracting customers. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Extreme cold in January knocked some refineries offline, limiting how much gasoline (and diesel and jet fuel) is available to customers. Matt Egan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 Burger King is offering customers a free Whopper or Impossible Whopper with a purchase of $3 or more now through Friday, March 1 when customers order via the BK app, the company said in a news release Wednesday. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'customer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English custumer, from custume — see custom entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of customer was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near customer

Cite this Entry

“Customer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/customer. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

customer

noun
cus·​tom·​er ˈkəs-tə-mər How to pronounce customer (audio)
1
: one that buys a product or service
2
: individual entry 2 sense 2, fellow
he's a real tough customer

Legal Definition

customer

noun
cus·​to·​mer
1
: a person or business that purchases a commodity or service
2
a
: a person or entity having an account with a bank or on whose behalf the bank has agreed to collect items
b
: a person or entity for whom an issuer issues a letter of credit

More from Merriam-Webster on customer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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