Word
dependence
Meanings
the state of relying on someone or something for support, resources, or functioning
the condition of being controlled by or needing a substance to feel normal or cope
a relationship in which one country, organization, or area is governed by or reliant on another
Definition
Dependence is the state of needing someone or something in order to function or succeed.
Dependence describes a situation where a person, group, or system relies on another for support, resources, or help. It can be practical, such as relying on a service, or emotional, such as relying on someone for reassurance. The word often suggests that functioning becomes difficult without the thing relied on. In some contexts, it can also refer to a strong need for a substance, but the general idea is reliance.
Examples
- Her dependence on public transport shaped where she chose to live and work.
- The team reduced its dependence on a single supplier by building alternative options.
- My dependence on constant notifications was distracting, so I changed my settings and routines.
- Their dependence on external approval made constructive feedback feel unusually threatening.
- As the project expanded, our dependence on manual processes became a clear bottleneck.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse dependence (reliance) with dependency (a dependent condition or thing) and use them interchangeably in formal writing.
More at C1 level
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