dependence

Or de·pend·ance

[dih-pen-duhns]

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.

dependence

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of dependence¹

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

Example Sentences

This Government said it is "determined to tackle the unacceptable rise in food bank dependence".

From BBC

There are currently no concrete figures on the number of people overall who have started rehab for drug dependence.

From BBC

Swift is the opposite of the “tradwife” fantasy that’s popular on the right: A woman who marries young and leaves public life for a life of constant childbearing and financial dependence on her husband.

From Salon

"We will deepen the damage to the terror infrastructure above and below the ground and sever the population's dependence on Hamas."

From BBC

The investments in housing are giving CSU a more residential flavor, even as many campuses maintain their long-standing dependence on commuters.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• confidence 
• dependency