dependence

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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

4 a :drug addiction

developed a dependence on painkillers

b :habituation 2b

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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 of dependence from the Web

Through a sister who has struggled with heroin dependence, Hanlon has experience with addiction.

— meredith wadman, Science | AAAS, "Brain-altering magnetic pulses could zap cocaine addiction," 29 Aug. 2017
In the early stages of rehearsal, Andy Leahy talks with his actors about comedy's occasional dependence on era and looks for ways to angle a gag written in 1930 to suit the sensibilities of a 2017 audience.

— angela denk, Daily Southtown, "Show goes on for Flossmoor professional theater, despite death of founding member," 18 Aug. 2017
A separate, but related, potential constraint on Team Blue’s ideological freedom is the party’s growing dependence on the votes of the affluent.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Democrats Can Abandon the Center — Because the Center Doesn’t Exist," 30 July 2017
Business Insider notes the FDA has discussed reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes before, and studies have named it as an effective way to reduce dependence on cigarettes.

— brittney mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "FDA Announces Plan to Cut Nicotine Content in Cigarettes," 28 July 2017
Pyle himself had served as a Koch Industries lobbyist and ran a side business writing editorials attacking the D.O.E.’s attempts to reduce the dependence of the American economy on carbon.

— michael lewis, vanityfair.com, "Why the Scariest Nuclear Threat May Be Coming from Inside the White House," 26 July 2017
Eventually, that worsens to the point of incontinence and total dependence on caregivers.

— amy norton, chicagotribune.com, "Special training plus medication helps advanced Alzheimer's patients: Study," 19 July 2017
More than half of the economy in Columbus is driven by exports, according to an analysis by the Brookings Institution, which ranked all metro areas by their dependence on exports. ►

— maureen groppe, Indianapolis Star, "Cummins CEO to Congress: Update, but don't end, NAFTA," 18 July 2017
CoDA Meets Tuesdays EAST HARTFORD — Co-Dependents Anonymous, CoDA, is a 12-step fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is recovery from co-dependence and the development and maintenance of healthy relationships.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The East Hartford Edition," 17 July 2017

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.