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

Interior architects Rodolphe Parente and Marion Mailaender updated the Ken Club’s 1980s cues, with the ambition to bring a five-star travel experience to the local-first clientele, to bring the sense of escape into everyday neighborhood life. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Resta said that Swiss watch brands that follow the old playbook — relying on their history, older clientele and elitist marketing — face extinction. — Robert Frank, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026

Vroman’s catered to various clientele and communities, from traveling dignitaries to academics and leisure readers on vacation. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

The Challenge Martin — whose celeb clientele includes Andie MacDowell, Frances Fisher and Sharon Osbourne — has over 1 million followers across Instagram and TikTok. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 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