English Reference
Noun

clientele

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US /ˌkɫaɪənˈtɛɫ/ clien·tele UK spelling clienteles Business

n.the group of people who regularly use a business or professional service. You use this word when talking about all the customers of a shop, restaurant, or lawyer as a single group.

n.the collective body of customers or clients of a business, professional person, or institution. Often used with a collective singular verb, though it refers to a group of individuals.


SIMPLE

The restaurant has a very loyal clientele.

CONTEXTUAL

The boutique's high-end clientele expects personalized service and exclusive access to new collections.

COMPLEX

By shifting its marketing strategy toward younger professionals, the firm successfully diversified its clientele and reduced its dependence on a few aging accounts.

Usage

Usually takes a singular verb; often modified by adjectives like 'loyal', 'wealthy', or 'diverse'.

The Kusama cult has grown alongside and inside a contemporary art world of slick worldwide galleries, with branches from LA to Hong Kong, and a clientele of one percenters who buy art like jewellery.

The Guardian· 27 Aug 2026

Borrowed from French clientèle, ultimately from Latin cliēns (English client).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin cliēns
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated