dependant

British  

/ dɪˈpɛndənt /

noun

1. a person who depends on another person, organization, etc, for support, aid, or sustenance, esp financial support

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Commonly Confused

See dependent

Explanation

A dependant is someone who relies on someone else, possibly for financial support. You'll most often find this spelling in British English, where it's favored (or favoured!) in using the word as a noun. Don't be confused by the spelling. In the UK, the -ant ending often shows up for the noun but not the adjective. In the US, the -ent ending is more popular for both the noun and adjective. Either way, this word has to do with reliance. Kids are dependants (or dependents) of their parents, which means they depend on them for food and shelter.

Example Sentences

The boss of South East Water has said the company is too dependant on individual facilities after a six-day supply failure affected thousands of people in Kent.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

Volkswagen and Audi on Friday said their full-year financial guidance was dependant on an adequate supply of semiconductors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

Under the FCA's plans, providers will have until December to consider and respond to complaints - but those cases will be hugely dependant on the judgement of the Supreme Court judges.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2025

From the next academic year, the threshold for families with one dependant will go up from £20,817 to £23,400 and for households with two or more dependents it will go up from £23,077 to £25,974.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2025

When the end came he was a dependant on the charity of the poor and the pitying love of the unfortunate.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 5 "Greek Law" to "Ground-Squirrel" by Various