reliance

noun

re·​li·​ance ri-ˈlī-ən(t)s 

1

: the act of relying : the state of being reliant

2

: something or someone relied on

Synonyms of reliance

• anchor
• backbone
• dependence
• pillar

Examples of reliance in a Sentence

he's been the family's foremost reliance in times of trouble many times

a baby's reliance on her parents

Recent Examples on the Web

Replacing the town's reliance on steamboats on the White River made the town a booming trade hub for timber, zinc and cotton. —Arkansas Online, 12 May 2026

But to meet the needs of patients with diseases such as fibromyalgia, IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, and long COVID, medicine will need to loosen its reliance on the magic-bullet model. —Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026

All systems are electric to support the City's climate goals, and complemented by passive design measures that include orientation, shading and daylight optimization to ease reliance on mechanical systems. —Stefan Ionescu may 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2026

And the world could accelerate its shift to renewable energy sources, reducing the world’s reliance on fossil fuels. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reliance

• self-reliance

Rhymes for reliance

• science
• appliance
• compliance
• defiance
• geoscience
• neuroscience
• noncompliance
• pseudoscience

Kids Definition

reliance

noun

re·​li·​ance ri-ˈlī-ən(t)s 

1

: the act of relying

2

: the condition or attitude of one who relies : dependence

3

: something or someone relied on

Legal Definition

reliance

noun

re·​li·​ance ri-ˈlī-əns 

1

: the act of relying

reliance on a promise

2

: reliance interest at interest 1