customer

word

/ˈkəstəmɝ/
KUH-stuh-mur
/kˈʌstəmɐ/
KUH-stuh-muh

Definition

A customer is a person or organization that buys goods or services from a shop, company, or business.

Usage & Nuances

Common in business and everyday English. Use 'customer' for someone who buys something; 'client' is more common for professional services like law, design, or consulting. Common collocations include 'customer service', 'customer support', 'customer base', and 'regular customer'.

Example Sentences

The customer paid in cash.

basic

A customer asked for help at the front desk.

basic

Every customer gets a free bag.

basic

She's been a customer of ours for years.

natural

If the customer isn't happy, we'll fix it.

natural

That guy is our best customer this month.

natural