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

The report warned copper’s reliance on a handful of countries makes global supplies and prices vulnerable to disruptions, policy shocks, and trade barriers. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026

The approach avoids reliance on a single lidar by layering redundant perception systems. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026

Trump challenges Thursday’s data release comes amid a challenging moment for UC as admission practices and college reliance on higher tuition from international students face criticism nationally. —Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026

The health care industry's reliance on tech comes into play in a surprisingly clever way. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Jan. 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