Definitions
01a buyer
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a person who buys things from a shop or business.
n. a person or organisation that purchases goods or services from a business.
日本語:客※
“The shop was busy with customers buying gifts for the holiday.”
“The manager implemented a new loyalty programme to encourage repeat customers and improve overall satisfaction scores.”
Pitfall
The shop has many clients every morning.
The shop has many customers every morning.
Use 'customer' for shops and restaurants; 'client' is usually for professional services like lawyers or accountants.
02a type of person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a person you have to deal with, often described by their personality.
n. a person of a specified kind, especially one that someone has to deal with or interact with.
“Be careful with that dog; he can be a tough customer if he doesn't know you.”
“The negotiator was known for being a cool customer, never losing his temper even during the most heated debates.”
Usage
Usually preceded by an adjective like 'tough', 'cool', or 'slippery' to describe a person's temperament.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “customer” in context.
Confusables
A customer pays for goods or one-off services, while a client pays for ongoing professional expertise and advice.
RememberCustomer = Commodities. Client = Counsel.
Etymology
From Middle English custumer, from Old French coustumier, costumier (compare modern French coutumier), from Medieval Latin custumarius (“a toll-gatherer, tax-collector”, noun), from custumarius (“pertaining to custom or customs”, adjective), from custuma (“custom, tax”). More at custom. By surface analysis, custom + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. ugly customer
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/customer
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0