dependence

American  

[dih-pen-duhns] / dɪˈpɛn dəns /

Or dependance

noun

• dependences
  plural

1. the state of relying on or needing someone or something for aid, support, or the like.

2. reliance; confidence; trust.

   Her complete reliability earned her our dependence.

3. an object of reliance or trust.

4. the state of being conditional or contingent on something, as through a natural or logical sequence.

   the dependence of an effect upon a cause.

5. the state of being psychologically or physiologically dependent on a drug after a prolonged period of use.

6. subordination or subjection.

   the dependence of Martinique upon France.

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dependence British  

/ dɪˈpɛndəns /

noun

1. the state or fact of being dependent, esp for support or help

2. reliance; trust; confidence

3. rare an object or person relied upon

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nondependance
  noun
• nondependence
  noun
• overdependence
  noun
• predependence
  noun
• self-dependence
  noun
• semidependence
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• dependences
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dependence

1400–50; late Middle English dependaunce < Old French dependance, equivalent to depend ( re ) ( see depend) + -ance -ence

Explanation

Dependence is a state where someone is heavily reliant on someone or something else. This could mean the dependence of children on parents or an addict on a drug. Since to depend on someone is to need them, dependence is a state or condition of strong need. There are many kinds of dependence: a dog is in a state of dependence with his master. This word is also often used for drug and alcohol dependence, which is known as addiction. Dependence a strong word for extreme needs: liking something, like chocolate, isn't really dependence. The opposite of dependence is independence: being self-reliant and not needing others.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dependence dependences

The company has started testing Advanced Micro Devices GPUs alongside Nvidia chips to reduce costs and avoid dependence on a single supplier.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Chinese investment remains vital to the economy, even as concerns periodically surface over labour practices, local employment and the country's dependence on foreign capital.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

China is reducing its own dependence on foreign-controlled architectures while positioning itself to lead in commercializing the open alternative.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

Faust added: "This obviously has potential to remove cold chain dependence, reduce wastage and improve access."

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

The generation after Galileo had to acknowledge its dependence on Evidence-Indices and so, willy-nilly, it had to adopt the virtues of the judiciary.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

A breakdown of the properties registered overseas shows they went to a total of 44 different countries or crown dependences, including Russia and the Cayman Islands.

From BBC ● May 12, 2026

Here, though, the men’s relationship, with its kindness, virtues and mutual dependences, also offers a vision of an American dream not yet wholly corrupted by unbridled self-interest.

From New York Times ● Sep. 26, 2019

You see here not only Palmyrenes, but strangers from all parts of the East--people from our conquered provinces and dependences, who feel politically with the Palmyrene, but yet have not the manners of the Palmyrene.

From Zenobia or, the Fall of Palmyra by William Ware

Fortunately, the same crowded city conditions which make moral isolation possible, constantly tend to develop a new restraint founded upon the mutual dependences of city life and its daily necessities.

From A New Conscience and an Ancient Evil by Jane Addams

Claims made by their pride and their self-respect, and their weaknesses and dependences.

From The Research Magnificent by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

Related Words

• confidence
• dependency