dependent

Or de·pend·ant

[dih-pen-duhnt]

adjective

1. relying on someone or something else for aid, support, etc.

2. conditioned or determined by something else; contingent.

   Our trip is dependent on the weather.

3. subordinate; subject.

   a dependent territory.

4. Grammar.,  not used in isolation; used only in connection with other forms. In I walked out when the bell rang, when the bell rang is a dependent clause.

5. hanging down; pendent.

6. Mathematics.

   1. (of a variable) having values determined by one or more independent variables.

   2. (of an equation) having solutions that are identical to those of another equation or to those of a set of equations.

7. Statistics.,  (of an event or a value) not statistically independent.

noun

1. a person who depends on or needs someone or something for aid, support, favor, etc.

2. a child, spouse, parent, or certain other relative to whom one contributes all or a major amount of necessary financial support.

   She listed two dependents on her income-tax form.

3. Archaic.,  a subordinate part.

dependent

/ dɪˈpɛndənt /

adjective

1. depending on a person or thing for aid, support, life, etc

2. (postpositive; foll by on or upon) influenced or conditioned (by); contingent (on)

3. subordinate; subject

   a dependent prince

4. obsolete,  hanging down

5. maths

   1. (of a variable) having a value depending on that assumed by a related independent variable

   2. (of a linear equation) having every solution as a solution of one or more given linear equations

noun

1. grammar an element in a phrase or clause that is not the governor

2. a variant spelling (esp US) of dependant

Confusables Note

See dependant

Other Word Forms

• dependently adverb
• dependantly adverb
• overdependent adjective
• predependent adjective
• quasi-dependent adjective
• quasi-dependently adverb
• self-dependent adjective
• self-dependently adverb
• semidependent adjective
• semidependently adverb
• undependent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dependent¹

First recorded in 1375–1425, dependent is from the late Middle English word dependaunt. See depend, -ent

Example Sentences

Local authorities have a legal duty to help eligible people who are homeless and provide temporary accommodation for families with dependents.

Read more on BBC

For example, customer service tasks in call centers and through online chat functions will become more AI dependent soon and other tasks not, McMillon said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Unfollowing full-time content creators whose incomes are dependent on followers buying the products and services they’re selling might help, too.

Read more on MarketWatch

It's not dependent on one player missing one penalty in a game.

Read more on BBC

But you clearly don’t want your entire retirement portfolio to be dependent on themes.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• defenseless 
• poor 
• reliant 
• vulnerable