dependence

dependence — noun

1. when a person, group, or system needs steady support from another person, thing,

1.nounB2
Definition

when a person, group, or system needs steady support from another person, thing, or outside source to stay healthy, keep running, or live normally

Example

The island's heavy dependence on tourism became a serious problem after the earthquake struck.

dependence on + [industry]

As a young child, Nikhil's dependence on his parents was complete and natural.

natural life stage

Common collocations
  • heavy dependence
  • growing dependence
  • economic dependence
  • financial dependence
  • emotional dependence
  • mutual dependence
  • reduce dependence
  • increase dependence
Synonyms
  • reliance

    very similar meaning, but reliance can suggest a more intentional choice to trust, whereas dependence often implies a lack of choice or necessity

  • need

    broader and less formal; need does not carry the same weight of ongoing reliance

  • dependency

    similar in meaning but often used for formal or financial contexts, e.g. a country's economic dependency

Antonyms
  • independence

    the state of not needing or relying on others

  • self-sufficiency

    the ability to meet one's own needs without outside help

  • autonomy

    the right or condition of self-government, often used for organizations or regions

Grammar Patterns

dependence on + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently followed by on (or more formally upon) to indicate the person, thing, or resource that is relied upon. Used with both living beings (a child's dependence on a parent) and non-living systems (the economy's dependence on oil).

Common Mistakes

The country's dependence of foreign oil is increasing.
The country's dependence on foreign oil is increasing.
the correct preposition is on, not of, for showing what is relied upon.
I don't like my dependence to my phone.
I don't like my dependence on my phone.
to is not used after dependence; use on instead.

2. a physical or psychological condition in which a person's body or mind has becom

2.nounB2
Definition

a physical or psychological condition in which a person's body or mind has become so used to a substance (such as alcohol, drugs, or medication) that they cannot stop using it without experiencing unpleasant effects

Example

After years of dependence on strong painkillers, Devika finally asked a doctor for help.

dependence on + [substance type]

The treatment centre helps people who are struggling with alcohol dependence.

alcohol dependence (common compound)

Common collocations
  • alcohol dependence
  • drug dependence
  • substance dependence
  • chemical dependence
  • physical dependence
  • psychological dependence
  • long-term dependence
  • develop dependence
  • treat dependence
Synonyms
  • addiction

    stronger and more commonly used in everyday language; addiction implies a compulsive need, while dependence can sound more clinical or medical

  • habit

    less severe; a habit can be broken more easily, while dependence implies a physical or psychological need

Antonyms
  • abstinence

    the practice of refraining from using a substance entirely

  • sobriety

    the state of not being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, often used in recovery contexts

Grammar Patterns

dependence on + [substance]

alcohol / drug / substance dependence

Usage Note

Commonly modified by physical or psychological to distinguish the type of addiction. Frequently appears in medical and clinical contexts as a more formal or clinical alternative to addiction. The pattern dependence on + substance is standard.

Common Mistakes

He has dependence for alcohol.
He has a dependence on alcohol.
the correct preposition is on, not for.
Dependence of drugs is a serious problem.
Dependence on drugs is a serious problem.
use on to specify the substance.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Dependence and reliance are the closest pair, but reliance often carries a slightly more voluntary tone — you can rely on a friend you trust, whereas dependence may suggest you have no real choice. Dependency overlaps heavily with dependence but tends to appear in formal or technical writing, such as economic dependency between countries or chemical dependency in medical contexts. Need is the broadest and least formal of the three — you can say 'I need coffee in the morning' without implying a serious dependence. In everyday use, dependence sounds more serious than reliance but less clinical than dependency. For example, 'the region's dependence on agriculture' sounds like a structural condition, while 'the region's reliance on agriculture' can suggest a strategic choice. 'The region's need for agriculture' would be a weaker statement about lacking something rather than relying on it.

reliance ↗dependency ↗need ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in dependence on
  • state of dependence
  • degree of dependence

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Dependence entered English in the 1400s from French dépendance, which comes from Latin dependēre, a combination of dē- ('down') and pendēre ('to hang'). The original Latin meaning was 'to hang down from', which shifted in French and English to the figurative sense of 'hanging on' someone or something for support. By the 1500s it was being used for reliance on others, and by the 1800s it had taken on the additional meaning of addiction to substances.