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

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• cliental, adjective

Other Words From

• cli·en·tal [klahy-, en, -tl, klahy, -, uh, n-tl], adjective
• non·client 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

“Returns in the market have been flat or decreasing over the last decade,” said Michael Moses, who tracks the investment potential of artworks for clients.

From New York Times

He conceded that “the evidence in this case is very good that Laken Riley was murdered", but he said proof connecting his client to Ms Riley's death was "lacking”.

From BBC

Long Beach Realtors Loree Scarborough and Tessa Owen were holding several fat bundles of blue hydrangeas around 8:30 a.m. while considering long stems of orange ranunculus for a client appreciation event later that day.

From Los Angeles Times

Clinica Sierra Vista workers routinely head there to find their clients and dole out medications to those suffering from terminal illnesses.

From Los Angeles Times

"They’ve already been through so much — and each time it happens, it kind of rips apart an old wound," he said of his clients.

From Salon

Related Words

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