client

American  

[klahy-uhnt] / ˈklaɪ ənt /

noun

clients plural

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

Derived Forms

• cliental
  adjective
• nonclient
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clients
  plural

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

Increasingly, these families are gaining direct access to these deals through nimbler independent wealth management firms and RIAs, according to Joshua Becker, co-leader of law firm Pillsbury’s Private Client & Family Office practice.

From Barron's • May 23, 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

Client and gaming sales rose 73% to $4 billion, while sales in the company’s embedded segment declined 8% to $857 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 4, 2025

Enter Distinguished Client, takes catalogue, but does not consult it. 

From Masques & Phases by Ross, Robert

Related Words

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