leading customer

USAGE SUMMARY

"leading customer" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a customer who serves as an example for other customers, or a customer who is particularly important or well-known. For example, "ABC Corporation is our leading customer, and always provides excellent feedback on our products."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Pakistan is the leading customer.

The New York Times

Hyundai Motor is the leading customer for Hyosung tires with nylon made at its Ulsan plant.

The New York Times

A leading customer like Apple will be first in line for supplies, and it has inventories for several weeks, analysts say.

The New York Times

SEOUL — Samsung Electronics reported a record quarterly profit of 8.1 trillion South Korean won, nearly double the figure of last year, as strong sales of high-end televisions and Galaxy smartphones more than offset reduced orders for chips and screens from Apple, its main rival and leading customer.

The New York Times - Tech

The commissioner also cited Tesla's leading customer satisfaction stores for the quality of its service centers as another reason for granting the license.

TechCrunch

Chief Executive Officer Ron Shaich commented: “Despite operating in a very uncertain consumer and cost environment, our concept remains strong as evidenced by our industry leading customer satisfaction ratings, high unit volumes and resulting strong bakery-cafe return on investment".

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In other words, firms should lead customers rather than just following them.Many brands depend not just on leading customers but on turning them away at the door.

The Economist

Under the lead of Peter Weigand and Michael Born, Dacuda refocuses its activities on its successful productivity solutions with leading customers such as Sunrise, Crealogix, Unisys, and SITA".

TechCrunch

Continental generally ranks higher than United in the leading customer-service surveys, though airlines as an industry do not score high marks.

The New York Times - Travel

Tom O'Toole, United's senior vice president for marketing and loyalty, said United had opted to return to the Burnett tagline because it wanted to "re-establish United's position as the world's leading" customer-focused airline.

The New York Times

The statement echoed recent warnings from computer makers that are Microsoft's leading customers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a company's relationship with a "leading customer", provide context about the nature of their collaboration or the impact the customer has on the company's products or services.

Common error

Avoid using "leading customer" to describe every client. Reserve it for customers whose actions genuinely set a precedent or significantly influence your business.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leading customer" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "leading" modifies the noun "customer". This describes a customer who is at the forefront, most important, or sets a standard for others. Ludwig confirms this phrase's correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leading customer" is grammatically sound and used to denote a customer of significant importance or influence. Ludwig's analysis, along with examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and Forbes, suggests that it's most commonly employed in News & Media, Formal & Business and Science contexts. While grammatically correct, reserving the term for clients whose actions set a precedent or significantly influence your business is advisable. Common alternatives include "key customer", "primary customer" and "top customer".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary customer

Replaces "leading" with "primary", emphasizing the customer's main or most important status.

key customer

Substitutes "leading" with "key", highlighting the customer's importance and influence.

major customer

Replaces "leading" with "major", indicating a significant customer in terms of volume or revenue.

top customer

Substitutes "leading" with "top", emphasizing the customer's high ranking or value.

premier customer

Replaces "leading" with "premier", suggesting the customer is of the highest quality or status.

significant customer

Replaces "leading" with "significant", focusing on the customer's notable impact or presence.

chief customer

Substitutes "leading" with "chief", denoting the customer with the highest authority or importance.

principal customer

Replaces "leading" with "principal", indicating the main or primary customer.

foremost customer

Substitutes "leading" with "foremost", highlighting the customer's prominent position.

elite customer

Replaces "leading" with "elite", suggesting that the customer is part of a privileged or exclusive group.

FAQs

How can I use "leading customer" in a sentence?

You can use "leading customer" to describe a customer who is particularly important or influential. For example, "Our "leading customer", ABC Corp, provided valuable feedback on the product prototype."

What's the difference between "leading customer" and "major customer"?

"Leading customer" implies influence and innovation, whereas "major customer" simply refers to a client with significant purchasing volume. It depends on the context.

What can I say instead of "leading customer"?

You can use alternatives like "key customer", "primary customer", or "top customer" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "leading customer" in formal communication?

Yes, "leading customer" is appropriate for formal communication, especially in business contexts. Ensure that the description accurately reflects the customer's role and impact.