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REFERENCE

dependent

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //dɪˈpɛndənt// UK //dɪpˈɛndənt// de·pen·dent General-service

n. a person who relies on you for financial support, such as a child or an elderly relative. You often list these people on tax forms or insurance documents.

n. a person who relies on another for financial support, typically a child, spouse, or relative. Often used in legal, insurance, or taxation contexts.


SIMPLE

He has three dependents to support on a single salary.

CONTEXTUAL

When you apply for the new health insurance plan, you must list the names of all your legal dependents.

COMPLEX

The tax code allows for specific deductions for each qualifying dependent, provided they reside with the primary taxpayer for more than half of the fiscal year.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English dependaunt, dependent, from Middle French dependant (present participle of dependre (“to depend”)) and Latin dēpendēns (present participle of dēpendeō (“to depend”)). By surface analysis, depend + -ent.

Usage

Commonly used in the plural form in administrative and legal documents.

Pitfall

He is dependant on his parents.He is dependent on his parents.In American English, 'dependent' is used for both the noun and the adjective; in British English, 'dependant' is the noun and 'dependent' is the adjective.

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