dependence

noun

de·pen·dence | \ di-ˈpen-dən(t)s

variants: or less commonly dependance

Definition of dependence

1 : the quality or state of being dependent especially : the quality or state of being influenced or determined by or subject to another

2 : reliance, trust

3 : one that is relied on

4a : drug addiction developed a dependence on painkillers

b : habituation sense 2b

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about dependence

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Examples of dependence in a Sentence

The company was hurt by its dependence on government loans. Our dependence upon foreign oil makes our economy vulnerable. a harmful dependence on foreign oil

Recent Examples on the Web

By 2016, three-quarters of people with opioid addictions had been prescribed a drug used to treat their dependence. — Erika Edwards, NBC News, "U.S. death rates from suicides, alcohol and drug overdoses reach all-time high," 12 June 2019 The argument, reportedly, is that Huawei is currently dependent on Google for its Android smartphone software, and that dependence is a good thing for the US. — Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, "Report: Google argues the Huawei ban would hurt its Android monopoly," 7 June 2019 In some of these communities the dependence is so strong that the risk of illness could be as high as 1 in 100. — Craig Welch, National Geographic, "More people are eating marine animals—with deadly results," 22 May 2019 That said, the giants’ domestic dependence could be a good thing. — Shira Ovide, Bloomberg.com, "America’s Tech Giants Should Enjoy Their Home-Field Advantage," 25 Feb. 2019 Barbiturate dependence was common when the drugs were easily available by prescription, but this has declined dramatically as other drugs have replaced them. — Eric Bowman, CNN, "The five most addictive substances in the world," 23 Jan. 2019 America’s shale revolution has broken years of dependence on Middle Eastern oil, to the extent that the International Energy Agency expects the U.S. to become a net energy exporter by 2023. — Sarah Mcfarlane And Summer Said, WSJ, "Saudi Arabia Edges Toward Bet on Booming U.S. Energy Sector," 8 Jan. 2019 That's your body building up a tolerance, one component of dependence. — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, "Bella Hadid’s New Year’s Resolution Is to Give Up Her JUUL: 'So Far So Good!'," 8 Jan. 2019 This is an interesting posture to take, as NASA has awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing in order to end its dependence on Russian Soyuz rockets—presently the only means by which NASA astronauts can get to the International Space Station. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "NASA concerned about culture of “inappropriateness” at SpaceX," 20 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dependence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.