dependence

American  

[dih-pen-duhns] / dɪˈpɛn dəns /

Or dependance

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.

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

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

Etymology

Origin of dependence

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

Example Sentences

Carney is set to leave Tuesday for China, as the Canadian leader works toward diversifying Canada’s export markets and reduce its dependence on exports to the U.S. to drive growth.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite this dependence, the report points to growing "donor fatigue."

From Science Daily

Pankaj Chadha, chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council, said diversification had become a necessity to lessen dependence on the "biggest and the most lucrative" market.

From Barron's

Meanwhile, Nvidia's biggest customers -- Google, Amazon, and Microsoft -- are increasingly developing their own chips to reduce their dependence on the company.

From Barron's

The most interesting competitive dynamic sits further out in time, and it intersects with Canada’s own efforts to reduce its dependence on the U.S. oil market.

From Barron's

Related Words

• confidence
• dependency