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English

dependence

gb/dɪpˈɛndəns/ us/dɪpˈɛndəns/
B1 English
~ 9200
Senses
0 senses
Noun B1 state
1

needing someone or something for support

A state where a person, group, or thing needs someone or something else to live, work, or act in a normal way.

Usage pattern: dependence on [something/someone]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "dependence" (noun) with the verb "depend" and with the noun "dependency". Use "dependence" after prepositions like "on" or "of": "dependence on technology", not "depend on technology" (verb) and not "dependence of technology" in this meaning. "Dependency" is more common in technical, medical, or legal contexts and for places (e.g., "a British dependency").
Synonyms
reliance (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and often used for systems or processes as well as people.) | need (More basic and emotional; less about ongoing support structures and more about a strong requirement.) | trust (Focuses on confidence in someone rather than on practical or financial support.)
Antonyms
independence (Describes not needing support from others, especially financially or practically.) | self-sufficiency (Emphasizes being able to provide everything needed without outside help.)
Collocations
dependence on |heavy dependence |financial dependence |emotional dependence |long-term dependence |growing dependence
Themes
daily life |relationships |business |daily_life |core_vocabulary
Examples
  • Her dependence on her parents for rent and food has continued well into her thirties.
  • The company’s growing dependence on imported oil makes it vulnerable to price changes.
  • He worries about his emotional dependence on his partner and wants to feel more confident on his own.
  • Rural communities often have a high dependence on seasonal tourism income.
  • Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is a major policy goal.
Learner examples
  • The child has a strong dependence on his mother.
  • Many students have a financial dependence on their families.
  • This small town has a big dependence on the factory for jobs.
  • We should lower our dependence on cars.
  • Her dependence on her phone makes it hard for her to relax.
Noun B2 state
2

addiction or strong need for a substance

A state where a person feels they must use a drug, alcohol, or do something again and again, and it is very hard to stop.

Usage pattern: dependence on [a drug/alcohol/substance]
Common mistake:
Learners often use only "addiction" and do not recognize that "dependence" is common in medical or formal writing: "alcohol dependence", "opioid dependence". Some say "dependence to a drug" instead of the correct "dependence on a drug".
Synonyms
addiction (More common in everyday speech and often sounds more serious or emotional; "dependence" can sound slightly more medical or technical.) | habit (Much weaker; can be neutral and does not always suggest loss of control or withdrawal symptoms.)
Antonyms
sobriety (Specifically the state of not using alcohol or drugs, often after a period of dependence.) | abstinence (Emphasizes choosing not to use a substance or engage in a behavior at all.)
Collocations
drug dependence |alcohol dependence |substance dependence |physical dependence |psychological dependence |treatment for dependence
Themes
health |medicine |emotions
Examples
  • The doctor explained that long-term use of these pills can lead to dependence.
  • He entered a clinic to get help with his alcohol dependence.
  • Some painkillers carry a high risk of dependence and must be used carefully.
  • Treatment for substance dependence usually combines medication with counseling.
  • They warned him that online gambling dependence was already affecting his work and family life.
Learner examples
  • She is getting help for her drug dependence.
  • The medicine worked, but it caused dependence.
  • He wants to stop smoking, but his dependence on nicotine is strong.
  • Alcohol dependence can hurt a person’s health and family.
  • The clinic offers a program for internet dependence.
Noun B2 state
3

being under another's control or influence

A state where a person, group, or country cannot act freely because it needs or is controlled by another person, group, or country.

Usage pattern: dependence on [a person/group/country]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "control" or "power" and miss the idea of ongoing need in "dependence". Another common error is the preposition: say "dependence on foreign aid", not "dependence of foreign aid".
Synonyms
subordination (More formal; emphasizes lower status or power in a hierarchy.) | vulnerability (Focuses on the risk and weakness caused by dependence, rather than the controlling side.)
Antonyms
autonomy (Stresses the power to make decisions without outside control.) | sovereignty (Used mainly for states or nations; full political independence.)
Collocations
economic dependence |political dependence |dependence on foreign aid |dependence on imports |colonial dependence |reduce dependence
Themes
politics |economics |society |business
Examples
  • The country’s dependence on foreign aid has limited its political choices.
  • Economic dependence on a single export makes the region fragile.
  • They warned that growing dependence on one major client could reduce the firm’s bargaining power.
  • Colonial dependence left many nations with unbalanced economies.
  • The policy aims to cut energy dependence on neighboring countries.
Learner examples
  • The small country has a strong dependence on its powerful neighbor.
  • Many people worry about economic dependence on one big company.
  • Their dependence on foreign money gives those investors a lot of power.
  • The city wants less dependence on car companies for jobs.
  • Political dependence can make a country weak.
Noun technical C1 relation
4

statistical or mathematical relationship

In mathematics and statistics, a situation where one number or thing changes when another number or thing changes.

Usage pattern: dependence between [variables/factors]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse the everyday sense of "dependence" with this technical, statistical sense. In technical writing, "dependence" often appears with words like "variable", "function", or "correlation"; pay attention to these clues. Another error is using the verb "depend" in purely noun slots: write "the dependence of Y on X" rather than "the depend of Y on X".
Synonyms
correlation (Common in statistics; often used when describing how strongly two variables move together, though technically not identical.) | relationship (Very general term; less precise than "dependence" in mathematical or statistical writing.)
Antonyms
independence (In statistics and mathematics, describes variables or events that do not affect each other.)
Collocations
statistical dependence |dependence between variables |linear dependence |functional dependence |spatial dependence |time dependence
Themes
science |mathematics |research
Examples
  • The study found a clear dependence between income level and education.
  • In this model we assume statistical dependence among neighboring regions.
  • Linear dependence of the variables was tested using standard methods.
  • The time dependence of the reaction rate is shown in Figure 3.
  • There appears to be no strong dependence of outcomes on age in this sample.
Learner examples
  • The graph shows a strong dependence between height and weight.
  • In this class, we study the dependence of one number on another.
  • There is little dependence of the result on temperature.
  • The scientist found a dependence between two factors.
  • We test for dependence between these two variables.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dependence
IPA
GB/dɪpˈɛndəns/
US/dɪpˈɛndəns/
Syllables & stress
de - pend - ence (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pend)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: dependence
  • Plural: dependence, dependences
Word family
Forms
dependences noun
Core family
depend verb A2 dependent adjective B1 dependable adjective B1
Related words
dependency noun B2 dependably adverb
Negative and opposite forms
independent adjective B1 independence noun B1 independently adverb B1 undependable adjective
Advanced or less common
interdependence noun interdependent adjective
Expressions

dependence on

1
/dɪpˈɛndəns ˈɔn/
fixed phrase

needing support from something

Used to say that someone or something needs another person or thing to live, work, or act in a normal way.

Examples
  • Their heavy dependence on online sales makes the business sensitive to internet problems.
  • We need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels in the next decade.
  • Her dependence on her parents has decreased since she found a full-time job.

drug dependence

1
/dɹˈʌɡ dɪpˈɛndəns/
fixed phrase

addiction to a drug

A strong need to keep taking a drug, where it is very hard to stop.

Examples
  • The clinic specializes in treating drug dependence in teenagers.
  • Some pain medicines can cause drug dependence if used for a long time.
  • Public health campaigns aim to prevent drug dependence before it starts.

economic dependence

1
/ˌɛkənˈɑmɪk dɪpˈɛndəns/
fixed phrase

needing others for economic support

When a person, group, or country needs another for money, trade, or jobs and cannot act freely without it.

Examples
  • The region’s economic dependence on tourism made the pandemic especially painful.
  • They want to reduce their economic dependence on a single major customer.
  • Economic dependence on foreign aid can limit a government’s choices.

alcohol dependence

1
/ˈælkəhˌɑl dɪpˈɛndəns/
fixed phrase

Condition of needing alcohol regularly

A health problem where a person cannot stop drinking alcohol and feels bad without it.

Examples
  • He sought treatment for his alcohol dependence.
  • He sought treatment for alcohol dependence after losing his job.
  • Alcohol dependence can be difficult to overcome without help.
  • Alcohol dependence can slowly damage the liver and other organs.
  • Support groups can help people who are living with alcohol dependence.
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