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consumer

n.
US //kənˈsumɝ// UK //kənsˈuːmɐ// con·sumer
  1. 1 a buyer of goods (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a person who buys products or uses services for themselves.

    an individual who purchases or uses goods and services for personal consumption rather than for resale or manufacturing.

    Example

    The company is trying to understand what the average consumer wants to buy this year.

    Example

    Consumer confidence has remained low despite the recent tax cuts, as many households continue to prioritise saving over discretionary spending.

    Usage

    Often used in compound nouns like 'consumer goods', 'consumer rights', or 'consumer protection'.

  2. 2 the market (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    all the people who might buy a specific product.

    the collective body of people who purchase a particular product or service.

    Example

    This new phone is designed to appeal to the younger consumer.

    Example

    Marketing strategies must evolve to capture the attention of the modern digital consumer, who values authenticity over traditional advertising.

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  1. 3 living thing that eats (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    a living thing that gets its energy by eating other plants or animals.

    a heterotrophic organism that feeds on other organisms in a food chain.

    Example

    In this food chain, the rabbit is a primary consumer because it eats grass.

    Example

    Secondary consumers play a vital role in regulating the population of herbivores within the local ecosystem.

    • heterotroph
Origin

From consume + -er.

Word family

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