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dependent Definition

de·pend·ent (dē pen′dənt, di-)

adjective

  1. hanging down
  2. influenced, controlled, or determined by something else; contingent
  3. relying (on another) for support or aid
  4. subordinate
  5. addicted

Etymology: ME < OFr dependant < L dependens, prp. of dependere: see depend

noun

  1. a person who depends on someone else for existence, support, etc.
  2. Obsolete a subordinate part

dependent Related Forms
de·pend′·ently adverb
dependent Synonyms

dependent

modif.

  1. Subordinate

    subject, subservient, secondary, lesser; see subordinate.

  2. Needing outside support

    helpless, poor, indigent, minor, immature, clinging, reliant, weak, not able to sustain oneself, addicted; see also weak 6.

  3. Contingent

    liable to, subject to, incidental to, conditional, conditioned, under the control of (something exterior), sustained by, unable to exist without, subordinate, ancillary, accessory to, provisory, controlled by, regulated by, determined by, on a string*; see also conditional.

dependent Synonyms

dependent

n.

minor, child, charge, ward, retired person, orphan, minor, protegé, retainer, hanger-on; see also child, ward 2.

dependent Law Definition

n

A person relying on another for financial support; a relative for whom a taxpayer may claim an exemption on his income tax return.
dependent Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • goodwill: We will once more become a campaigning organization dependent on the goodwill of volunteers.
  • availability: The cost of this service is dependent on the availability of the journal.
  • import: Not surprisingly, therefore, western policymakers are looking at ways to render their economies less dependent on imports from the Middle East.
  • agriculture: In common with many tropical countries, which have been dependent on agriculture, Guyana faces hard choices.
  • whim: He becomes dependent on the whims and wishes of customers, suppliers, and, of course, staff.
  • generosity: The British Red Cross is therefore dependent on the generosity of the public to continue our work.

Modifying Another Word

  • heavily: The Appellant did admit heavily dependent cases to the home.
  • financially: You may get a special grant if your children are financially dependent on you.
  • entirely: The system was devised to bring up the Princess entirely dependent on her mother.
  • wholly: The meaning of locality in this context will be wholly dependent upon local circumstances.

Modifies a noun

  • mellitus: Twins and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus Second trimester serum marker levels are raised in twin pregnancies.
  • variable: Let's assume I have some data on a dependent variable, which for the sake of argument we call Y for now.
  • origination: Hume did not have the doctrine of dependent origination in any of the versions " ( 182-3 ).
  • diabetes: Type II or non-insulin dependent diabetes In type II diabetes the body does not make enough insulin or cannot use insulin properly.
  • territory: F. The British overseas territories are what, before 26 February 2002, were called British dependent territories.
  • diabetic: Among the papers was a survey of 77 insulin dependent diabetics over a 12-year period to 1994 in Canada.

Used with adjective complement

  • vary: Numbers vary dependent on whether there is a race on that day.
  • become: Britain is soon to become dependent on these supplies.
  • remain: This I have failed to do, and thus I remain dependent on more expert colleagues.

Preposition: upon

  • goodwill: Applicants refused support are dependent upon the goodwill of strangers or charities.