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

Van der Rohe won in court and the architect and his client eventually settled for $2,500 four years later. —Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 25 Dec. 2024

UnitedHealthcare said that Mangione was never one of its clients. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

The firm supports artists at every stage of their career, from legal to business advice, even providing a multidisciplinary creative space within their office for the whims of their clients, whose successes are also amplified on Jayaram’s social media profiles. —Lilian Raji, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024

Beale said that while athletes aren’t all that different from other high net worth clients, having experience as a former athlete helps. —Robert Frank, CNBC, 24 Dec. 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