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.
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
Thankfully, Southern California is home to some of the world’s best — as attested by their starry clientele.
—Beth Landman, HollywoodReporter, 28 Feb. 2026
The Bohemian Grove is also the source of many conspiracy theories due to its secrecy and exclusive clientele, which reportedly includes many wealthy, powerful men.
—Lauren Chapman, Sacbee.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Seven years ago, the 14 apartment houses now owned by real estate agent Phil Zipes had a 95 per cent Jewish clientele.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Local families have been spending weekends here for generations, but new developments like Cinnamon Shore, a luxury vacation community located just 10 minutes from Port Aransas’s main drag, are attracting new clientele.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clientele
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Beth Landman, HollywoodReporter, 28 Feb. 2026
The Bohemian Grove is also the source of many conspiracy theories due to its secrecy and exclusive clientele, which reportedly includes many wealthy, powerful men.
—Lauren Chapman, Sacbee.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Seven years ago, the 14 apartment houses now owned by real estate agent Phil Zipes had a 95 per cent Jewish clientele.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Local families have been spending weekends here for generations, but new developments like Cinnamon Shore, a luxury vacation community located just 10 minutes from Port Aransas’s main drag, are attracting new clientele.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clientele
Cite this Entry
“Clientele.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clientele. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clientele
noun
cli·en·tele
ˌklī-ən-ˈtel
: a group of clients
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