clientele

noun

cli·​en·​tele ˌklī-ən-ˈtel 

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

The multihyphenate credited hairstylist Brandon Pietsch, whose extensive clientele also includes Kamala Harris, Megan Fox and Rosé, with her new look. — Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2026

Nine9Nine, Moerke said, will serve tomahawks, filets, oysters and more, catering mostly to a business clientele and travelers that trickle over from the nearby Colorado Convention Center. — Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026

Haute couture is accessible to only a very small clientele, but it is regarded as the pinnacle of fashion. — Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026

Frieda expanded his celebrity clientele in the 1980s, working with stars including Princess Diana, Madonna and Paul McCartney, as well as styling for television and fashion editorials. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clientele

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

clientele

noun

cli·​en·​tele ˌklī-ən-ˈtel 

: a group of clients