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

The prime minister wants local areas to move away from dependence on Whitehall grants and towards funding that rewards local economic growth.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Archer says Joby is hiding its dependence on money and parts from China, while Joby alleges Archer stole its technology through corporate espionage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

There is also growing concern in Washington that Brazil and other countries are seeking to reduce their dependence on the dollar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

How he attempts to square that with his economy’s utter dependence on the goodwill of those rivals will determine whether and how China’s economy ever returns to a stable growth footing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

This reproach of my dependence had become a vague sing-song in my ear: very painful and crushing, but only half intelligible.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

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

But yet it is less danger, to have an ambitious man stirring in business, than great in dependences.

From The Essays of Francis Bacon by Bacon, Francis

I shall take for granted that you have a fairly plain idea of the stomach and its dependences.

From The Easiest Way in Housekeeping and Cooking Adapted to Domestic Use or Study in Classes by Campbell, Helen

She gave nearly as much milk as the other two, and had been one of the main dependences of the family.

From The Young Miner or Tom Nelson in California by Alger, Horatio

Related Words

• confidence
• dependency