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

For space traffic management, autonomous navigation and onboard catalog updates could reduce dependence on ground-based tracking networks while improving collision avoidance.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

But she is also a busy professional with a relatable dependence on takeout and delivery, and one who follows the news.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

However, this too was rejected by the Swedish Migration Agency in November 2025 with documents stating there was not a "special relationship of dependence" between the two.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

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

In Montaigne’s case this resulted in a peculiar emphasis on the subjectivity of what we know, its dependence on our personal experience.

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

A wiser and more benevolent instructor would teach him, on the contrary, to acknowledge his dependences and avoiding forbidden things, to partake with cheerfulness of the material blessings which surround him.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 14 by Robert Kerr

These economic dependences and independences consist only in the relations of one man or woman to the others.

From Woman and Womanhood A Search for Principles by C. W. (Caleb Williams) Saleeby

These natural dependences carry with them natural uncovenanted obediences,—to parents, filial duty—to country, loyalty—to God, piety: all which are embraced in the Latin term pietas.

From Moral Philosophy by Joseph Rickaby, S.J.

Related Words

• confidence
• dependency