dependence
Americannoun
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the state of relying on or needing someone or something for aid, support, or the like.
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reliance; confidence; trust.
Her complete reliability earned her our dependence.
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an object of reliance or trust.
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the state of being conditional or contingent on something, as through a natural or logical sequence.
the dependence of an effect upon a cause.
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the state of being psychologically or physiologically dependent on a drug after a prolonged period of use.
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subordination or subjection.
the dependence of Martinique upon France.
noun
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the state or fact of being dependent, esp for support or help
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reliance; trust; confidence
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rare an object or person relied upon
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing dependence
Psychological Conditions and Disorders
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Psychology
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Jimmy Carter, Speech from July 15, 1979
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
According to the study, dependence on fossil fuels has temporarily hidden the effects of ecological overshoot by supporting food production, industrial growth, and energy supplies.
From Science Daily • May 27, 2026
He possessed the rare courage to challenge systems and programs that fostered dependence rather than truly empowering the people they aimed to help.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
As the Iran war persists and economic pressure mounts, the reality of global dependence on key waterways—and the supply chains that rely on their safety and openness—is setting in.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
That means the products are considered to have moderate-to-low potential for physical and psychological dependence.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
Nobody plotted the Agricultural Revolution or sought human dependence on cereal cultivation.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
