client

noun

cli·​ent ˈklī-ənt 

1

: one that is under the protection of another : dependent

a first-rate power, able to defend her political clients in central and eastern Europe

—W. W. Kulski

2

a

: a person who engages the professional advice or services of another

a lawyer's clients

a personal trainer … enjoyed the challenges of helping clients buff up their bodies.

—S. K. Parks

b

: customer

hotel clients

a restaurant's clients

c

: a person served by or utilizing the services of a social agency

a welfare client

d

: a computer in a network that uses the services (such as access to files or shared peripherals) provided by a server

also : software that allows a computer to function as a client in a network

3

: client state

clientage

ˈklī-ən-tij 

noun

cliental

klī-ˈen-tᵊl  ˈklī-ən- 

adjective

clientless

ˈklī-ənt-ləs 

adjective

Synonyms

• account
• customer
• guest
• patron
• punter [chiefly British]

Examples of client in a Sentence

The accountant is meeting with another client right now, but she'll be able to see you later this afternoon.

a law firm soliciting new clients through television advertising

Recent Examples on the Web

Price said aerospace and defense companies are among his clients who are studying the possibility. —Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024

The climb up the stairs may be somewhat steep, but the shape reflects the priority to the apartment’s aesthetics, shared by both the architect and his clients, guided by an impeccable sense of design. —Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 26 Oct. 2024

In the last fiscal year, God’s Love supported more than 16,000 clients and their kids and caregivers with 4.3 million meals, an organizational record. —Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024

This happened to my client, Jackson, a creative director, who had been working with Rich, a talented product designer, for the past year. —Melody Wilding, Harvard Business Review, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French client, from Latin client-, cliens; perhaps akin to Latin clinare to lean — more at lean

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing client

• client state

Kids Definition

client

noun

cli·​ent ˈklī-ənt 

1

: a person who uses the professional advice or services of another

2

: customer sense 1