# consumer

/kənˈsumɝ/ (US) · /kənsˈuːmɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/consumer
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a buyer of goods

noun · CEFR B1

a person who buys products or uses services for themselves.

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

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

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

all the people who might buy a specific product.

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

- This new phone is designed to appeal to the younger consumer.
- Marketing strategies must evolve to capture the attention of the modern digital consumer, who values authenticity over traditional advertising.

### 3. living thing that eats

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

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

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

- In this food chain, the rabbit is a primary consumer because it eats grass.
- Secondary consumers play a vital role in regulating the population of herbivores within the local ecosystem.

## Examples

- The modern consumer expects fast delivery and high quality.
- Consumer protection laws ensure that people are not misled by false advertising when buying electronics.
- Market analysts observed that the average consumer is increasingly willing to pay a premium for products that demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.