client

[klahy-uhnt]

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.

adjective

1. being a regular customer.

   a client company.

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

client

/ 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

client

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

Other Word Forms

• cliental adjective
• nonclient adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of client¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of client¹

C14: from Latin cliēns retainer, dependant; related to Latin clīnāre to lean

Example Sentences

Solicitor Paul James Moore asked for a psychiatric assessment to be carried out on his client.

From BBC

"Yesterday, my brother who is also my business partner tried to send an email to a client. He couldn't get it through."

From BBC

Researchers posing as beauticians secretly filmed a nurse trading prescriptions over WhatsApp, a pharmacist coaching clients to falsify records and a bogus doctor handing over Korean toxin vials for cash.

From BBC

Completed in 1994, Farrell later claimed that when the building was being designed he was told only that it was for a government client.

From BBC

Several of her clients have gone through the prison system and they told her they got treated better in institutions.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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