consumer
gb/kənsˈumɚ/ us/kənsˈumɚ/
B1
English
~ 1500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Person who buys goods or services
Someone who buys things for their own use, not to sell them again.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a consumer of [something]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'consumer' with 'customer'; a customer is specific to one business, while consumer is broader and refers to anyone who uses goods or services.
Synonyms
buyer (More general term for someone who purchases something, can refer to any context including business-to-business.)
|
customer (Often used for someone buying from a specific business or store.)
Antonyms
seller (Refers to the person or entity offering goods or services in exchange for money.)
Collocations
consumer rights
|consumer market
|consumer demand
|consumer goods
|consumer choice
Themes
business
|daily life
|economics
|finance
|daily_life
Examples
- The company aims to attract younger consumers.
- As consumers, we have the power to influence the market.
- Consumer confidence has been rising in recent months.
- Many consumers are looking for eco-friendly products.
Learner examples
- The consumer bought a new phone.
- Consumers pay money for products.
- The store gives discounts to consumers.
- A consumer can choose from many brands.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
2
Organism that eats others for energy
An animal or other living thing that gets energy by eating plants or other animals.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'consumer' in biology with the everyday meaning of a person buying things.
Synonyms
heterotroph (Scientific term used in biology for organisms that cannot produce their own food.)
Antonyms
producer (In ecology, an organism, like a plant, that makes its own food through photosynthesis.)
Collocations
primary consumer
|secondary consumer
|tertiary consumer
Themes
science
|biology
|ecology
|nature
Examples
- In this food chain, rabbits are primary consumers.
- Consumers depend on producers for energy.
- Top predators are also considered consumers in an ecosystem.
Learner examples
- A cow is a consumer because it eats grass.
- Lions are consumers that eat other animals.
- Consumers cannot make their own food.
Grammar
Dictionary form
consumer
IPA
GB/kənsˈumɚ/
US/kənsˈumɚ/
Syllables & stress
con - sumer (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sumer)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: consumer
- Plural: consumers
Word family
Forms
consumers
noun
Core family
consume
verb B1
consumption
noun B1
Related words
consumable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
producer
noun B1
Advanced or less common
consumerism
noun C1
consumerist
adjective
Expressions
consumer demand
1/kənsˈumɚ dɪmˈænd/
fixed phrase
Desire of people to buy things
How much people want to buy certain products or services.
Examples
- Consumer demand for electric cars is growing rapidly.
- The company increased production to meet consumer demand.
consumer goods
1/kənsˈumɚ ɡˈʊdz/
fixed phrase
Goods for personal consumption
Products that people buy for their own use, like food, clothes, and furniture.
Examples
- The store sells both industrial equipment and consumer goods.
- Consumer goods are often cheaper when bought in bulk.
consumer rights
1/kənsˈumɚ ɹˈaɪts/
fixed phrase
Legal protections for buyers
The laws that protect people who buy products or services.
Examples
- Consumer rights laws prevent companies from making false claims.
- Knowing your consumer rights can help you avoid scams.