clientele

noun

cli·​en·​tele ˌklī-ən-ˈtel How to pronounce clientele (audio)
ˌklē-ən-,
 also  ˌklē-ˌän-
: a body of clients
a shop that caters to an exclusive clientele

Examples of clientele in a Sentence

… Gottfried had been complaining for months that our local clientele didn't have the class to appreciate the house. Jane Smiley, Good Faith, 2003
The lunchtime clientele at TJ's was polymorphous as usual, as at District Court, though there was a higher percentage of respectable clients here—local business folk having lunch at one of the last downtown bars that served decent food but wasn't fancy. Tracy Kidder, Home Town, 1999
The collections shown last month not only had plenty of clothes for the couture clientele to choose from, but, even more importantly, they were loaded with multiple messages for the fashion community at large. Carrie Donovan, New York Times Magazine, 21 Feb. 1988
According to the State Department in-jokes, this was the most exclusive place in Washington. For its clientele was made up almost entirely of CIA and KGB agents watching one another watching other people. Erich Segal, The Class, (1985) 1986
The restaurant generally attracts an older clientele.
Recent Examples on the Web Younger family clientele, walkability attracted Pipsqueak Wine owners to East Tosa As longtime New Yorkers before moving to the Midwest, the pair never thought their business dream would find a home in the suburbs, Mitchell said. Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2024 Moore said that Harvey had in the past been seen delivering boxes to Project Blitz, a popular shoe reseller with a large online following and a high-profile clientele that includes celebrities such as Drake and Beyoncé. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Here are a few things an MSSP can bring to the table: • Application Of Best Practices Across Various Clients: An MSSP works with a multitude of customers over the long haul, developing security rules and practices for many clientele. Rom Hendler, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Ever since the shop reopened after having closed during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the mood among the largely Latino clientele has been bleak. Jennifer Medina, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 The French company has also fared better than some of its peers who rely heavily on travel to boost spending, whereas Hermès’s clientele is largely local to each country. Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 9 Feb. 2024 Catering to a Rodeo Drive clientele, the brand commissioned Pierre-Yves Rochon (Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera, Shangri-La Hotel in Paris) to design 170 rooms and suites with a salute to Hollywood’s Golden Age. Evan Benn, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Word of mouth has attracted a diverse roster of clientele spanning collectors, investors, and A-listers who simply want to sample some of the best spirits in the world. Richard Carleton Hacker, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2024 By 2019, the two were living between Miami and Dubai as the founder and COO of Black Edge Concierge, an ultra-high-end travel agency with an unorthodox business model and royal families, CEOs and celebrities among its clientele. Ann Abel, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clientele.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French clientèle, from Latin clientela, from client-, cliens — see client

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clientele was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near clientele

Cite this Entry

“Clientele.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clientele. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

clientele

noun
cli·​en·​tele ˌklī-ən-ˈtel How to pronounce clientele (audio)
: a group of clients

More from Merriam-Webster on clientele

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!