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

To try to reduce time consumption, the therapist can either ask upfront to get any AI transcripts from the client or request that the client do so after the initial session. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Knut Johnson, one of the San Diego attorneys who represented Liddy at the time, apologized to the probation officer on behalf of his client and told her that Liddy suffered from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026

Most recently, Powell McCormick was vice chair, president and head of global client services at merchant bank BDT & MSD Partners. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026

The company was founded in 2013 and initially worked on Republican political campaigns, applying then-novel social graphs to helping clients make their case to stakeholders. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 12 Jan. 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