dependence

C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

Also spelled dependance

US /dɪˈpɛndəns/ UK /dɪˈpɛndəns/ See IPA manual

Freq #30629

Meanings

1

noun
The state of needing or relying on someone or something.

The country wants to reduce its dependence on imported oil.
2

noun
A strong physical or mental need for a substance such as a drug or alcohol.

Her dependence on alcohol destroyed her career.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the state of needing or... dependency

2 noun · a strong physical or mental... addiction

Opposites

independence

Word family

Forms dependences

Derived forms antedependenceco-dependencecodependenceinterdependencenondependenceoverdependencepharmacodependencesemidependencestereodependencetechnodependence

Related forms dependency dependent

Etymology

From Middle French dépendance. Morphologically depend + -ence.

dépendance Middle French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# dependence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈpɛndəns/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈpɛndəns/
**Frequency rank:** 30629

## Meanings
1. The state of needing or relying on someone or something.
2. A strong physical or mental need for a substance such as a drug or alcohol.

## Examples
- The country wants to reduce its dependence on imported oil.
- Her dependence on alcohol destroyed her career.

## Antonyms
- independence

## Derived Forms
- antedependence
- co-dependence
- codependence
- interdependence
- nondependence
- overdependence
- pharmacodependence
- semidependence
- stereodependence
- technodependence

## Related Forms
- dependency
- dependent

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: dépendance

## Etymology
From Middle French dépendance. Morphologically depend + -ence.

## AI Etymology
Dependence comes from Middle French dépendance. Morphologically depend + -ence. The historical chain includes dépendance (Middle French). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as antedependence, co-dependence, codependence, and interdependence and related forms such as dependency and dependent. In present use it covers the state of needing or relying on someone or something and a strong physical or mental need for a substance such as a drug or alcohol.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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