client

American  

[klahy-uhnt] / ˈklaɪ ənt /

noun

1. a person or group that uses the professional advice or services of a lawyer, accountant, advertising agency, architect, etc.

2. a person who is receiving the benefits, services, etc., of a social welfare agency, a government bureau, etc.

3. a customer.

4. anyone under the patronage of another; a dependent.

5. Computers. a computer or an application on a computer that communicates with a remote server.

   Exit the program before installing the patch to update the client.

6. client state.

7. (in ancient Rome) a plebeian who lived under the patronage of a patrician.

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adjective

1. being a regular customer.

   a client company.

2. economically, and often militarily, dependent upon a more prosperous, more powerful nation.

client British  

/ ˈklaɪənt, klaɪˈɛntəl /

noun

1. a person, company, etc, that seeks the advice of a professional man or woman

2. a customer

3. a person who is registered with or receiving services or financial aid from a welfare agency

4. computing a program or work station that requests data or information from a server

5. a person depending on another's patronage

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client Scientific  

/ klī′ənt /

1. A program that runs on a personal computer or workstation connected to a computer network and requests information from a file server.

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Other Word Forms

• cliental adjective
• nonclient adjective

Etymology

Origin of client

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin client-, stem of cliēns “person seeking the protection or influence of someone powerful”; perhaps akin to clīnāre “to bend” ( incline )

Example Sentences

She interpreted it to mean that she was granting royalty-free rights to her existing and future academic papers and any other intellectual property that might benefit an unspecified Mercor client.

From The Wall Street Journal

When it submitted its list, Baron & Budd told Alaska it was “aware of no conflict of interest that arises from our simultaneous representation of Alaska and these listed clients.”

From The Wall Street Journal

He said the deal provided too much money to lawyers instead of their clients.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite the lackluster growth in recent economic activity, the labor market has remained quite tight, Capital Economics chief Europe economist Andrew Kenningham said in a note to clients after the jobless data.

From The Wall Street Journal

Because of the change, foundations and tax advisers last month began contacting their donors and clients to ensure their mailed gifts qualify for a 2025 income-tax deduction.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• applicant
• buyer
• consumer
• patient
• patron
• shopper