A1noun1K

Customer

UK /["/ˈkʌstəmə(r)/"]/US /["/ˈkʌstəmər/"]/

Definition

a person or an organization that buys goods or services from a shop or business

In simple words: A person who buys goods or services.

Examples

  • The customer returned the item because it was defective.
  • Every customer deserves excellent service.
  • A happy customer will likely buy again.
  • The store gave a discount to every customer during the sale.
  • We need to listen to customer feedback to improve our products.

Usage notes

Use 'customer' in business contexts. It's suitable for both formal and casual situations. Avoid using it in very informal conversations where 'client' might be more appropriate.

Grammar pattern

customer + noun

Memory hint

Think of a 'custom' made for someone – a customer is someone who receives something made for them.

Collocations

  • big
  • favoured/​favored
  • favourite/​favorite
  • have
  • deal with
  • help
  • care
  • relations
  • relationship

Synonyms

  • client
  • buyer
  • consumer
  • patron
  • purchaser

Antonyms

  • seller
  • vendor

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'client' - generally, 'client' is used in services, 'customer' for retail.
  • Using 'customers' when referring to a singular person.
  • Mispronouncing the word, leading to misunderstanding.