noun
consumer; ordinary citizen; stakeholder
Refers to people as participants in daily life, often in economic, social, or policy contexts. Can emphasize the perspective of ordinary individuals rather than institutions.
生活者の視点から商品を開発する。
We develop products from the consumer's perspective.
この政策は生活者の声を反映している。
This policy reflects the voices of ordinary citizens.
suffix
person who lives on/with ...
Suffix used in compounds to describe a person living under certain conditions or in a particular way. Common in terms like 路上生活者 (homeless person) or 年金生活者 (pensioner).
See also: 路上生活者
路上生活者の支援活動に参加した。
I participated in support activities for homeless people.
年金生活者にとって物価上昇は深刻だ。
Rising prices are serious for people living on a pension.
市民 means 'citizen' in a civic or municipal sense, whereas 生活者 emphasizes the everyday living aspect rather than political membership.
Compound of 生活 (seikatsu, 'life, living') and 者 (sha, 'person'). The suffix usage is a natural extension of the noun meaning.