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.

---

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

---

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 ) ( 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

A country's economic resilience will depend on a number of factors, the IMF said, including the damage to energy infrastructure, dependence on the Strait of Hormuz and availability of alternative export routes.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The answer for many is more solar and wind power plus electric vehicles—even if that means more dependence on a single country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

"What we're trying to point out in this paper is that you could have a different kind of environmental dependence, even if the annihilation probability is constant in the center of the galaxy," explains Krnjaic.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

Rigetti has drawn criticism on Wall Street over its reliance on federal funding to support ongoing research-and-development efforts, with some analysts arguing that Rigetti’s dependence on government contracts limits its near-term growth potential.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Mott believed that “independence of the husband and wife is equal, their dependence mutual, and their obligations reciprocal.”

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Related Words

• confidence
• dependency