clients - Master This Word
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clients Word Meanings
- a person who receives services from a professional
- a customer, especially in a business context
clients Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
clients Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈklaɪ.ənt/
US
/ˈklaɪ.ənt/
clients Word Etymology
client = cli- (to lean) + -ent (indicating agent). Origin: Latin clientem (accusative of cliens) → Old French clinet → English. Memory image: Imagine a person leaning towards a professional for help, illustrating a relationship of trust.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I move closer to the desk, place my notebook within reach, and push aside a stray paper. When the client arrives, I adjust my posture and keep my focus on what they say. We talk, I pull up a chair, shift my attention to their needs, and let the plan take shape.
Real Context
In everyday English, client refers to a person who receives services from a professional rather than a general shopper. The word flags a formal or ongoing relationship, such as a lawyer, consultant, psychologist, or designer working for a client. You’ll hear phrases like client list, client meeting, or client satisfaction. Note that in business English you often contrast client with customer, where customer emphasizes a one-time purchase. In law and medicine, client has a neutral, professional tone and is not pejorative. Visualize a trust-based pairing: a client seeks help, and a professional provides expertise while maintaining confidentiality.
Usage Reminders
- Remember: a client is a service recipient, not a one-off shopper. Pick the term that fits professional contexts. Distinguish client from customer in tone and expectations. Use collocations like client list, client meeting, client confidentiality. Be aware some fields prefer 'client' over 'customer' to emphasize ongoing service. Treat client as a formal word in business and professional writing.
Common Misconceptions
- Believing 'client' always implies a fee or ongoing contract
- Mistakenly equating client with 'customer' in all contexts
- Assuming every client is a personal individual rather than an organization
- Thinking 'client' can only be used for lawyers
- Confusing 'client' with 'patient' in medical contexts
Thinking Differences
English treats client as a neutral term for ongoing professional service relationships; learners may mix with customer or think 'client = user' in tech contexts.
Learning Tips
- Associate client with trust and ongoing support
- Use client for professional services; reserve customer for goods
- Learn key collocations: client list, client meeting, client confidentiality
- Differentiate tone: client is formal in business writing
- Remember gender-neutral form: client is not tied to a gender
- Practice with legal/medical contexts to see nuances
Related Listening
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