dependent

Or de·pend·ant

[dih-pen-duhnt]

adjective

1. relying on someone or something else for aid, support, etc.

2. conditioned or determined by something else; contingent.

   Our trip is dependent on the weather.

3. subordinate; subject.

   a dependent territory.

4. Grammar.,  not used in isolation; used only in connection with other forms. In I walked out when the bell rang, when the bell rang is a dependent clause.

5. hanging down; pendent.

6. Mathematics.

   1. (of a variable) having values determined by one or more independent variables.

   2. (of an equation) having solutions that are identical to those of another equation or to those of a set of equations.

7. Statistics.,  (of an event or a value) not statistically independent.

noun

1. a person who depends on or needs someone or something for aid, support, favor, etc.

2. a child, spouse, parent, or certain other relative to whom one contributes all or a major amount of necessary financial support.

   She listed two dependents on her income-tax form.

3. Archaic.,  a subordinate part.

dependent

/ dɪˈpɛndənt /

adjective

1. depending on a person or thing for aid, support, life, etc

2. (postpositive; foll by on or upon) influenced or conditioned (by); contingent (on)

3. subordinate; subject

   a dependent prince

4. obsolete,  hanging down

5. maths

   1. (of a variable) having a value depending on that assumed by a related independent variable

   2. (of a linear equation) having every solution as a solution of one or more given linear equations

noun

1. grammar an element in a phrase or clause that is not the governor

2. a variant spelling (esp US) of dependant

Confusables Note

See dependant

Other Word Forms

• dependently adverb
• dependantly adverb
• overdependent adjective
• predependent adjective
• quasi-dependent adjective
• quasi-dependently adverb
• self-dependent adjective
• self-dependently adverb
• semidependent adjective
• semidependently adverb
• undependent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dependent¹

First recorded in 1375–1425, dependent is from the late Middle English word dependaunt. See depend, -ent

Example Sentences

The judge ruled that the mother could have contact with the children via letters or cards, but said any face-to-face contact would be "dependent on the children's wishes".

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Whether an asteroid is spinning neatly on its axis or tumbling chaotically, and how fast it is doing so, has been shown to be dependent on how frequently it has experienced collisions.

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He also argued that the tax credits would not help address what he says are major problems with healthcare policy, including "illegal aliens and able-bodied young men without dependents" using Medicaid.

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But the loss of ice will be particularly acutely felt by mountain communities dependent on glaciers for fresh water.

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As a nation that has been heavily dependent on oil, Saudi Arabia is working to diversify itself economically, socially and culturally.

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Related Words

• defenseless 
• poor 
• reliant 
• vulnerable