In Britain, a ratepayer was a person who owned or rented property and therefore had to pay local taxes called rates. The citizens of a district are sometimes still called the ratepayers when their interests and the use of local taxes are being considered.
2. countable noun
In the United States, a ratepayer is a person whose property is served by an electricity, water, or phone company, and who pays for these services.
The new law will benefit phone companies but leave ratepayers worse off.
ratepayer in British English
(ˈreɪtˌpeɪə)
noun
a person who pays local rates, esp a householder
ratepayer in American English
(ˈreɪtˌpeɪər)
noun
1. British
a person who pays rates, or local taxes
2.
a customer of a public utility
Examples of 'ratepayer' in a sentence
ratepayer
Tell them you were dealing with a ratepayer 's research problem.
Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)