Definition
User retention is the ability to keep users engaged and using a product over time. It is how you talk about finding, converting, or keeping customers without waving your hands. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.
In the room
How the word shows up in a real conversation.
In a Monday review, someone writes User retention on the board and restates it: “Ability to keep users engaged and using a product over time.” The next move is a test, a cut, or a double-down — not another debate about the word.
Common mistake
Using User retention as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.
See also
User Acquisition
Process of attracting and converting new users to a product or service.
Read definition →
User acquisition cost
Total cost of acquiring a new user, including marketing and sales expenses.
Read definition →
User demographics
Statistical characteristics of users, such as age, gender, income, and location.
Read definition →
User engagement
Level of interaction and involvement users have with a product or service.
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