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 of client

• customer
• patron
• guest

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

The eight-player leadership council known as the executive subcommittee, which counted five Boras clients, voted unanimously against the deal. —Andy McCullough, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026

The 15-member skiing party, four guides and 11 clients, were engulfed in an avalanche near the Castle Peak area of Truckee, California, about 10 miles north of Lake Tahoe. —Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026

The group included four guides and 11 clients who had paid for the trip. —Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026

And in 2023, Zillow paid $400 million (plus $100 million in a potential cash earnout) for Follow Up Boss, a customer relationship management software system that uses AI to summarize calls and can suggest a to-do list for agents and personalized messages that can be sent to a potential client. —John Kell, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for client

• giant
• pliant
• scient
• compliant
• defiant
• reliant
• suppliant
• noncompliant
• supergiant

Kids Definition

client

noun

cli·​ent ˈklī-ənt 

1

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

2

: customer sense 1