consumer English · revision 4479

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=early 15th century}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /kənˈsjuː.mə/, US /kənˈsuː.mɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an agent noun formed from [[consume]] and the suffix [[-er]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who squanders or wastes: the early 15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) late Middle English in SOED, also one who destroys or uses up,^(SOED 2002) 1535 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In economics, one who uses up goods and so destroys their exchangeable value, the opposite of producer, is from 1745,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the late 17th century in SOED.^(SOED 2002) In general use, a purchaser of goods or services, a customer, is from 1897.^(OED 1989) ''Consumer goods'' is attested from 1890,^(Etymonline) and ''consumers' credit'' from 1888.^(OED 1989) In the United States a ''consumer price index'' has been calculated since 1919, abbreviated CPI by 1971.^(Etymonline) In ecology a consumer is an organism that feeds on other organisms in a food chain.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 15th century – a waster.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1745 – in economics.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1888 – ''consumers' credit''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1890 – ''consumer goods''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1897 – a customer.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1919 – the consumer price index.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who buys [[goods]] or services for personal use rather than for resale or manufacture.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person or thing that uses something up.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(ecology)'' An organism that feeds on other organisms or organic matter in a [[food chain]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[consumership]]

+ * [[consumerize]]

+ * [[nonconsumer]]

+ * [[postconsumer]]

+ * [[preconsumer]]

+ * [[anticonsumer]]

+ * [[consumerism]]

+ * [[consumerist]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[consumption]]

+ * [[consume]]

+ * [[sumptuous]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}