consumer:

(plural: ‘consumers‘; pronunciation: the letter ‘c’ is said with a ‘k’ sound as in “kong”; the opposite word in meaning: producer, retailer, supplier, distributor, etc.)

‘to consume’ = to use something or own something  or use somebody’s services by paying money for direct or personal use, but not to use it in making/producing something else or re-sale that thing or redirect that service for profit or benefit

a person who buys goods (things) and/or uses others’ services by paying money;
a buyer; a customer,

consumers at a shop

e.g.

Every person in a society is a consumer but not everyone is a  producer.

A consumer of one thing may be a producer of another thing; for example, a person who buys sugar at a grocer’s is a consumer, but the same person may be a producer of bags that consumers use to carry their grocery.

In the past there used to be a kind of relationship between a consumer and a supplier or retailer because the retail shops were only large enough to supply things to a limited neighbourhood or community, so everybody knows everybody else, but in the present society, there is no chance of having such a relationship because consumer goods are sold in very big shops, super markets, or sent by post or through consignors, where nobody knows anybody else!

For an article on the way the American consumers are spending, please click here, for an article/item of news about the confusion over the definition of ‘consumer’, please click here, for an excellent article on ‘consumer goods’, please click here.

Return to “buyer“.             Return to “customer“.

About the Author:BC Kumar

BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.

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