consumer
- 01 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.
Simple“The company is trying to understand what the average consumer wants to buy this year.”
In context“Consumer confidence has remained low despite the recent tax cuts, as many households continue to prioritise saving over discretionary spending.”
UsageOften used in compound nouns like 'consumer goods', 'consumer rights', or 'consumer protection'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
all the people who might buy a specific product.
the collective body of people who purchase a particular product or service.
Simple“This new phone is designed to appeal to the younger consumer.”
In context“Marketing strategies must evolve to capture the attention of the modern digital consumer, who values authenticity over traditional advertising.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“In this food chain, the rabbit is a primary consumer because it eats grass.”
In context“Secondary consumers play a vital role in regulating the population of herbivores within the local ecosystem.”
SynonymsheterotrophAntonymsproducerautotroph
Usage consumer protection
From consume + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.