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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The international clientele is split between Europeans and Americans on endeavors to discover Ancient Egypt, and travelers from Gulf countries on weekend getaways, poised to shop at the many luxury malls in the hotel’s Garden City surroundings. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026 But none have watch parties for the games, and Domingo thinks his regular clientele is avoiding the area. Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026 Tables filled with food, cheerful toasts and a genuine love for partying became popular with non-Armenian clientele too. Ani Duzdabanyan, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026 Union regularly collaborates with stylist Thomas Christos Kikis, who also counts Rachel McAdams and Sophia Richie Grainge among his high-profile clientele. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for clientele

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clientele.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clientele. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

clientele

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

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