dependence

or de·pend·ance

[ dih-pen-duhns ]
See synonyms for: dependencedependences on Thesaurus.com

noun
  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.

  1. an object of reliance or trust.

  2. the state of being conditional or contingent on something, as through a natural or logical sequence: the dependence of an effect upon a cause.

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

  4. subordination or subjection: the dependence of Martinique upon France.

Origin of dependence

1
1400–50; late Middle English dependaunce<Old French dependance, equivalent to depend(re) (see depend) + -ance-ence

Other words from dependence

  • non·de·pend·ance, noun
  • non·de·pend·ence, noun
  • o·ver·de·pend·ence, noun
  • pre·de·pend·ence, noun
  • self-de·pend·ence, noun
  • sem·i·de·pend·ence, noun

Words Nearby dependence

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dependence in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dependence

dependence

sometimes US dependance

/ (dɪˈpɛndəns) /


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

  2. reliance; trust; confidence

  1. rare an object or person relied upon

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012