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

Conversely, some reviews criticize its lack of energy compared to previous films and its reliance on flashbacks. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

While requiring a fourth crew member, manual loading offers flexibility in ammunition handling and eliminates reliance on a mechanical autoloader. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026

Google itself is racing to secure more capacity, while Meta is actively trying to reduce reliance on outside models by building up its own systems. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 30 June 2026

Some critics suggest that any consistency in NDS designs could be an artifact of the group’s reliance on AI. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 June 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