A customer is a person or organization that buys goods or services from a business.

The idea

Customer is countable: a customer, two customers. Common phrases include help a customer, serve customers and customer service.

Examples

  • The customer asked about the price.
  • Two customers entered the bakery.
  • She helped a customer find the right size.
  • The shop is busy with customers today.
  • A customer left a question for the team.
  • We thanked the customer for the order.

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Watch out

Calling someone a customer does not establish that they completed a purchase on this particular visit.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the plural after two. Two ___ entered the bakery. (customer / customers)

    Show answer or example answer

    customers

    Customers is plural after two.

  2. Choose the noun for a person buying goods. A person buying goods from a shop is a ___. (customer / supplier)

    Show answer or example answer

    customer

    A person buying from a business can be a customer.

  3. Choose what the visit statement establishes. A customer entered the shop. A completed purchase is ___. (not established / certain)

    Show answer or example answer

    not established

    The sentence does not say whether a purchase was completed.

Use it today

Describe a customer’s question and how a business might help.