clientele
Americannoun
-
the clients or customers, as of a professional person or shop, considered collectively; a group or body of clients.
This jewelry store has a wealthy clientele.
-
dependents or followers.
noun
Etymology
Origin of clientele
1555–65; < Latin clientēla, equivalent to client- ( see client) + -ēla collective noun suffix; clientele ( def. 1 ) probably < French clientèle < Latin
Explanation
Your customers are your clientele. If you own a pet food store, your clientele might be two-footed and four-pawed. The noun clientele is often preceded by an adjective to describe the exact type of customer. Little boutiques in upscale neighborhoods probably cater to an exclusive clientele, while the kids' hair salon might have Barney on video to keep the young clientele motionless in their chairs. Regardless of business type, you are always trying to please the clientele.
Vocabulary lists containing clientele
Vocabulary from an excerpt from "Confessions of a 30-Year-Old Gamer," by Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates
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Six of Crows
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The Help
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Jim Justice said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal Friday that the resort has been profitable, retained its clientele and that he plans to continue investing in it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
"It's hard to know whether it will have an impact on bookings," he told AFP, adding the label "appeals to an international clientele, particularly Americans".
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
The clientele is mostly cyclists in helmets and spandex-y bike tops and shorts.
From Slate • May 27, 2026
The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., career coach’s clientele include people in midtier roles in tech, finance and elsewhere.
From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026
“Got to keep up good references, moving around to different clientele like you do.”
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
