Work and business / B2

KLEYE-uh-nt/ˈklaɪənt/

A client uses a professional’s or company’s services: a law-firm client, a client meeting. Customer is everyday for shops; patient is for doctors; client sounds professional or businesslike. Client base is the whole set of clients. In speech, customer is often enough. Do not call a shopper in a supermarket a client unless you are joking, and do not mix client with the computer sense (a client machine) in a business essay unless that is the topic.

Meaning

A person or organisation that uses the services of a professional or company.

Examples

• “The lawyer met a new client this morning.”
• “The architect met the client on site before changing the plans.”
• “Losing one major client would wipe out the year’s surplus.”

Good to know

A professional’s customer. Shop: customer. Doctor: patient. Formal/business tone. Not a supermarket shopper.

Near in meaning

customer

Topics

New