# client

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈklaɪ.ənt/ · frequency rank #2,780

## Definitions
1. A customer, a buyer or receiver of goods or services.
2. The role of a computer application or system that requests and/or consumes the services provided by another having the role of server.
3. A person who receives help or services from a professional such as a lawyer or accountant.
4. A person who employs or retains an attorney to represent him or her in any legal matter, or one who merely divulges confidential matters to an attorney while pursuing professional assistance without subsequently retaining the attorney.
5. In ancient Rome, retainers and followers associated with a gens.
6. Ellipsis of client state.

## Etymology
From Middle English client, from Anglo-Norman clyent, Old French client, from Latin cliēns, akin to clinare (“to lean”).

## Easily confused with
- **clit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/client-vs-clit)
- **Clint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/client-vs-clint)
- **cling** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/client-vs-cling)
- **clink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/client-vs-clink)
- **covent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/client-vs-covent)
- **cogent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/client-vs-cogent)
- **cent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cent-vs-client)
- **cleft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cleft-vs-client)
- **cement** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cement-vs-client)
- **clement** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clement-vs-client)

## Common misspellings (9)
`cclient`, `cilent`, `cleint`, `cliennt`, `clientt`, `clietn`, `clinet`, `cllient`, `lcient`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/client