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” ( incline )

Example Sentences

When she was sworn into the post in February 2025, she vowed transparency over the Epstein case and promised to release an alleged client list associated with the disgraced financier, who died in 2019.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Lawyers representing another of the minors declined to comment, while lawyers for a third said their client had "excellent school results" and there was "no element indicating a terrorist intention".

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Its client list includes Sempra, the parent company of SoCalGas, which opposed the clean air standards, which would have encouraged the sale of pollution-free heat pumps and threatened the utility’s business.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

On Dec. 12, the stock had plunged a record 33.8% after Fermi said its first prospective client had terminated a tenant agreement.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

“I have some valuable cargo in my office that needs to go to Miami. My client is anxious. I don’t want to disappoint him. Which is where you come in. I’ll pay you five dollars.”

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

Related Words

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