dependence

[dih-pen-duh ns] /dɪˈpɛn dəns/
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.
Also, dependance.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English dependaunce < Old French dependance, equivalent to depend(re) (see depend) + -ance -ence
Related forms
nondependance, noun
nondependence, noun
overdependence, noun
predependence, noun
self-dependence, noun
semidependence, noun
Examples from the web for dependence
  • Faculty should use their collective clout, such as it is, to reduce administrative dependence on these ratings.
  • But in the diversity of answers he could find no sure dependence.
  • Our day of dependence, our long apprenticeship to the learning of other lands, draws to a close.
  • Corn ethanol is not the ultimate solution to decreasing our dependence on oil, and neither is it the ideal climate solution.
  • Also heavy dependence for hotel workers on expatriate labor.
  • Reasoning so conceived is adaptive given human exceptional dependence on communication and vulnerability to misinformation.
  • The signature of chaos is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions.
  • We need to utilize everything in out power to reduce our dependence on foreign oil including using our own natural resources.
  • It is about continuing are dependence on foreign oil, but collecting huge gasoline taxes for use in buying votes.
  • We have not freed ourselves from a primitive economic structure and humiliating dependence on raw materials.
British Dictionary definitions for dependence

dependence

/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
Word Origin and History for dependence
n.

early 15c., from Middle French dépendance, from dependre (see depend). Originally also dependance (the earlier form), depending whether the writer had French or Latin foremost in mind; the Latin form gradually predominated and after c.1800 dependance is rare. As an adjective from c.1600.

dependence in Medicine

dependence de·pend·ence (dĭ-pěn'dəns)
n.

  1. The state of being dependent, as for support.

  2. Subordination to someone or something needed or greatly desired.

  3. A compulsive or chronic need; an addiction.

de·pend'en·cy n.