1
: one that is under the protection of another : dependent
… a first-rate power, able to defend her political clients in central and eastern Europe.—W. W. Kulski
2
a
: a person who engages the professional advice or services of another
a lawyer's clients
a personal trainer … enjoyed the challenges of helping clients buff up their bodies.—S. K. Parks
b
: customer
hotel clients
a restaurant's clients
c
: a person served by or utilizing the services of a social agency
a welfare client
d
: a computer in a network that uses the services (such as access to files or shared peripherals) provided by a server
also
: software that allows a computer to function as a client in a network
3
cli·ent·age
ˈklī-ən-tij
plural -s
1
: a body of clients : clientele
the clientage of a Roman nobleman
one of those little shops … where they sell such smart things so cheaply to a clientage of minor actresses and cocottes—Aldous Huxley
2
: the relationship of a client to a patron or benefactor
the specific tie which bound the herdsmen to their leader was in the nature of clientage—Kalervo Oberg
Cite this Entry
“Client.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/client. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.
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