customer

"Customer" is a straightforward and very common English word. It has one core meaning, but it can be used in a few interesting ways — literally and figuratively.

1nounbuyer of goods or services

A customer is someone who buys something from a shop, a company, or a person. Think of it this way: every time you walk into a store and buy something, you are a customer. Businesses exist to serve their customers.

everyday language, business · Modern, widely used

The customer paid for her groceries and left the store.

Our restaurant tries to make sure every customer leaves happy.

The phone company lost thousands of customers after raising its prices.

2nounfigurativea person you are dealing with

In informal speech, people sometimes use 'customer' to describe a person they have to deal with — especially when that person is difficult or unusual. For example, 'a tough customer' means someone who is hard to deal with or not easily pushed around.

everyday language · Modern, informal · figurative

He's a tough customer — he never accepts the first offer in a negotiation.

The detective warned his partner that the suspect was a tricky customer.