customer

noun

cus·​tom·​er ˈkə-stə-mər How to pronounce customer (audio)
Synonyms of customer
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

Synonyms of customer

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Examples of customer in a Sentence

She is one of our best customers. She's a pretty cool customer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Enterprise Mobility offers a sweeping sustainability program, including a carbon offset option that allows customers to purchase carbon credits from third-party partner Terrapass at the time of rental. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Its aging customer base had stopped eating out or died during the pandemic, and older customers were still hesitant to go back. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 Long days were spent cleaning, drawing and waiting for customers during slow periods, all while mastering a craft that permanently alters another person’s body. — Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026 Wood compared the role of pricing in cloud computing to a restaurant; low costs were the initial draw, but the capabilities that kept customers coming back were the real value. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for customer

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

Phrases Containing customer

Browse Nearby Words

custom-built
customer
customer's broker
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Customer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/customer. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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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

Nglish: Translation of customer for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about customer

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