Dependence: meaning, definitions and examples

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dependence

 

[ dɪˈpɛndəns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

on others

The state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else.

Synonyms

reliability, reliance, trust

Examples of usage

  • Children often have a sense of dependence on their parents for support and guidance.
  • The country's economy has a heavy dependence on oil exports.
Context #2 | Noun

on substances

The state of being addicted to a particular substance, such as drugs or alcohol.

Synonyms

addiction, craving, habit

Examples of usage

  • His dependence on alcohol has caused many problems in his personal and professional life.
  • She sought help to overcome her dependence on prescription painkillers.
Context #3 | Noun

on technology

The reliance on technological devices or systems for everyday activities.

Synonyms

reliability, reliance, trust

Examples of usage

  • The younger generation's dependence on smartphones is evident in their constant use.
  • The company's dependence on outdated software hindered its progress.

Translations

Translations of the word "dependence" in other languages:

🇵🇹 dependência

🇮🇳 निर्भरता

🇩🇪 Abhängigkeit

🇮🇩 ketergantungan

🇺🇦 залежність

🇵🇱 zależność

🇯🇵 依存

🇫🇷 dépendance

🇪🇸 dependencia

🇹🇷 bağımlılık

🇰🇷 의존

🇸🇦 اعتماد

🇨🇿 závislost

🇸🇰 závislosť

🇨🇳 依赖

🇸🇮 odvisnost

🇮🇸 háð

🇰🇿 тәуелділік

🇬🇪 დამოკიდებულება

🇦🇿 asılılıq

🇲🇽 dependencia

Etymology

The word 'dependence' originates from the Latin word 'dependere', which means 'to hang down' or 'to rely on'. It first appeared in the English language in the early 15th century. Over time, the term has evolved to encompass various contexts, reflecting the interdependence and reliance observed in human relationships, behaviors, and societal structures.

See also: depend, dependability, dependable, dependably, dependency, dependent, dependently, independence, independency, independent, interdependence, interdependent, undependable, undependably.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,208, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.