client
/ˈklaɪ.ənt/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
A client is a person or company that uses the services of a professional person or business. It is common in business, law, design, and technology.
- She met with a new client this morning.
- Our company has many clients in India.
- The lawyer called his client after lunch.
- 2.
In computing, a client is a device or program that connects to a server and uses its services.
- The app works as a client on your phone.
- Each client sends requests to the server.
- The email client stopped working today.
Adinary Nuance
A client is not just a customer. It often suggests an ongoing service relationship, especially with lawyers, consultants, agencies, or doctors. Use customer for buying goods or casual shopping. Use client when the relationship feels more professional and personal.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- khách hàng
- Spanish
- cliente
- Chinese
- 客户
- Japanese
- 顧客
- Korean
- 고객
Etymology
Client comes from Latin clientem, meaning 'one who depends on another'. It entered English through French in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
client meetingclient relationshipclient baseclient services
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is client more formal than customer?
- Yes. Client is usually more formal and suggests professional services.
- What is the difference between client and customer?
- A customer buys products. A client uses a professional service.
- Can I use client in business writing?
- Yes. It is very common in business, law, consulting, and marketing.
- What does client mean in computers?
- It means a device or app that connects to a server and uses its service.