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

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday announced plans to tap into unconventional natural gas deposits in an effort to lower her country’s reliance on foreign energy at a time when the Iran war is disrupting global energy markets. —María Verza, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026

Bokan represents one of America’s few solutions to offset our dangerous reliance on Chinese minerals critical to everything from smartphones to fighter jets. —Kelly Sloan, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026

Carriers around the world are even more affected by the rise in fuel costs because of their countries’ reliance on imports and have added fuel surcharges or announced fare increases. —Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026

China is already the world’s top hydrogen producer, but its increasingly bullish embrace of green hydrogen in its five-year plan — made more urgent as the country’s reliance on the Middle East for fossil fuels becomes more problematic — could also get things moving. —Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reliance

• self-reliance

Rhymes for reliance

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

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