dependent

/di'pendənt/
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dependent

A young child is dependent on her parents for care.

Definition
  1. Adjective:

    • Relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed: "Dependent" describes a state of needing someone or something else for aid, sustenance, or existence.
    • Contingent on something else: "Dependent" indicates that one thing is determined or conditioned by another.
    • Being under the power, control, or sovereignty of another: "Dependent" can describe a political or hierarchical relationship of subordination.
    • (Grammar) Unable to stand alone as a complete sentence: A "dependent" clause requires an independent clause to form a full thought.
  2. Noun:

    • A person who relies on another person for support (especially financial support): A "dependent" is someone, such as a child or spouse, who is supported by another person.
Usage Examples
  • Adjective:

    • The young seedlings are dependent on regular watering. (They require it to survive.)
    • Our plans are dependent on the weather. (They are contingent on it.)
    • The colony was a dependent territory of the empire. (It was under its sovereignty.)
    • In the sentence "Because I was late," the word "Because" introduces a dependent clause. (The clause cannot stand alone.)
  • Noun:

    • He listed his two children as dependents on his tax return. (They are people he supports financially.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Dependent on/upon": This is the standard prepositional phrase used with the adjective.
    • She is completely dependent upon her assistant for scheduling.
  • "Dependent variable": In mathematics and science, this is a variable whose value depends on that of another (the independent variable).
    • In the experiment, plant growth was the dependent variable.
Variants and Related Words
  • Dependence (n): The state of being dependent.
    • The country sought to reduce its dependence on foreign oil.
  • Dependency (n): A country or territory controlled by another; can also mean the state of being dependent.
    • The island was once a dependency of a larger nation.
  • Dependant (n): A chiefly British spelling variant for the noun form meaning "a person who relies on another."
    • He has three dependants.
Synonyms
  • Reliant: Counting on something for support.
  • Subordinate: Lower in rank or position.
  • Contingent: Dependent on certain conditions.
Antonyms
  • Independent: Not relying on others; free from external control.
  • Self-sufficient: Able to supply one's own needs.
Related Phrases
  • Financially dependent: Relying on another person for money.
    • Many students are financially dependent on their parents.
  • Chemically dependent: Addicted to a drug or substance.
    • The program helps chemically dependent individuals recover.
dependent

A young child is dependent on her parents for care.

Adjective
  1. addicted to a drug
  2. being under the power or sovereignty of another or others
    • subject peoples
    • a dependent prince
  3. held from above
    • a pendant bunch of grapes
  4. (of a clause) unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence
    • a subordinate (or dependent) clause functions as a noun or adjective or adverb within a sentence
  5. contingent on something else
  6. relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed
    • dependent children
    • dependent on moisture
Noun
  1. a person who relies on another person for support (especially financial support)