DictionaryAI

customer

noun
USKUS-tuh-mur/ˈkʌstəmɚ/UKKUS-tuh-muh/ˈkʌstəmə/

Pluralcustomers

3 meanings of customer

Practice

  1. 1
    buyernouncountable
    A person or company that buys things or services from a shop or business, often or only sometimes.

    Like the people who come into a shop to buy bread.

    A friendly customer left a big tip at the café.

    The store thanked its customers for their patience.

    UsageA lawyer or an agency usually says client instead.

  2. 2
    characternouncolloquialcountable
    A person, especially one you have to deal with in some way.

    He's a tough customer and won't change his mind easily.

    The new boss is a tough customer, so be ready for hard questions.

    UsageUsed with a word like tough or cool: a tough customer.

    Similarcharacter, type, sort

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 3
    nounhistoricalIndia
    An official in the past whose job was to collect taxes on goods being traded.
    The Customer should come and visit them.
    1615, Sir T. Roe, Hak. Soc. i. 44Here, Customer means the local official who collected customs taxes on goods.

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Origin

This word came through Old French from Latin words meaning a tax or toll collector, based on a word for 'custom' or 'tax'. It can also be seen as 'custom' plus '-er'.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  • Customer came through Old French from Latin custumarius, meaning a tax or toll collector, ultimately based on custuma, meaning custom or tax. en.wiktionary.org
  • Customer can also be analysed as custom plus -er. fr.wiktionary.org