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.

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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

• 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 ) ( depend ) + -ance -ence

Example Sentences

“While we are necessarily moving forward together because of our mutual dependence, each side distrusts the other side’s long-term intentions,” he told me.

From The Wall Street Journal

Wilson acknowledged a greater risk to international markets, owing to their heavy dependence on imported energy.

From MarketWatch

Private-credit funds say software companies that serve other sectors, such as healthcare, should be reported in those buckets because of their dependence on the industries.

From The Wall Street Journal

Solar power plays a major role in efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and address climate change.

From Science Daily

“Elon has three businesses that all depend on chips, and he understands that dependence as a single point of failure,” McNeill told me in a follow up email.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• confidence
• dependency