(Lat. cliens), among the Romans, a citizen that put himself under the protection of a man of distinction and influence, who, in respect of that relation, was called patronus. The patron afforded his protection, advice, and even pecuniary assistance to his client on certain occasions; and the client gave his vote for his patron, when the latter sought any office for himself or his friends. Clients owed respect to their patrons, and patrons owed their clients protection. This connection was hereditary, descending from one generation to another. The client bore the name of his patron, and attended him in war as his vassal. Hence illustrious families were proud of the number of their clients, and strove to increase the number of those transmitted to them by their ancestors. The connection too between a master and his liberated slave was expressed by the same terms.

The right of patronage, it is said, was instituted by Romulus, in order to unite the rich and the poor in such a manner as that the one might live without contempt, and the other without envy; but the condition of a client became in course of time little else than a species of servitude. Dionysius has given a summary of the mutual rights and obligations between patron and client.

CLIENT is now used to signify a party in a lawsuit who entrusts his cause to a counsellor or a solicitor.