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” ( see incline)

Explanation

If you pay for something, you are a client. If you pay to get your dog groomed, you are a client of the dog groomer (and so is your pooch). If you shop at a certain store or use the services of a particular business, then you are a client of that store or business. If you want to go into acting, for example, you'll need to become a client of a talent agent. In computer terms, a client is a computer that makes a request of another computer, called a server. The term client is especially used in networks where one server may handle multiple requests from multiple clients.

Example Sentences

Client and gaming segment revenue climbed 23%, helped by demand for its Ryzen processors and Radeon GPUs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

The New York Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection reimburses clients for financial losses — up to $400,000 per claim — caused by dishonest conduct of attorneys, such as theft of escrow or estate assets.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

In a report setting out the recommendations, the R&R Client Board - committee set up to deliver the renovation - said "continuing in the same way is unsustainable".

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Appeared in the January 8, 2026, print edition as 'House Subpoenas Epstein Executors, Client'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

Good master, quoth the Client, if your selfe had not said so, I would neuer haue beleeued it; but now I thinke as you doo.

From The Arte of English Poesie by Puttenham, George

Related Words

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