reliant

adjective

re·​li·​ant ri-ˈlī-ənt 

: having reliance on something or someone : dependent

reliantly adverb

Examples of reliant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

California is heavily reliant on the federal government to reach its conservation goals. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

But the Canadian alcohol industry is especially reliant on American consumers. — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

Rising bond yields could increase the already-staggering cost of the AI buildout and add risk for companies reliant on debt to fund their AI projects. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

South and Southeast Asian countries, which were more reliant on imports from the Persian Gulf than the United States, were hit hard soon after the war broke out. — Greg Pollock, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing reliant

• self-reliant

Rhymes for reliant

• client
• giant
• pliant
• scient
• compliant
• defiant
• suppliant
• noncompliant

Kids Definition

reliant

adjective

re·​li·​ant ri-ˈlī-ənt 

: having reliance on something or someone : trusting

reliant on the family for news

reliantly adverb