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dependent

adj. · n.
US //dɪˈpɛndənt// UK //dɪpˈɛndənt// de·pen·dent
  1. 1 relying on someone (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    needing someone or something else for help, support, or money.

    relying on or requiring the aid or support of another person or thing for survival or operation.

    Example

    The small island is heavily dependent on tourism for its income.

    Example

    The local economy remains dangerously dependent on a single manufacturing plant, leaving the community vulnerable to global market fluctuations.
    Pitfall
    The success is dependent of the weather.
    The success is dependent on the weather.

    The adjective 'dependent' always takes the preposition 'on' or 'upon', never 'of'.

  2. 2 affected by something else (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    decided or changed by something else that happens.

    contingent upon or determined by another factor or event.

    Example

    Our plans for the picnic are dependent on the weather tomorrow.

    Example

    The final approval of the merger is dependent on the company meeting several strict environmental and safety regulations.
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  1. 3 statistics (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Math

    in math, when the result of one thing changes the chance of another thing happening.

    describing a variable or event whose probability or value is influenced by the outcome of another.

    Example

    The two events are dependent, so the first result changes the second one.

    Example

    In this statistical model, the dependent variable represents the growth rate, which we measure against several independent environmental factors.
  2. 4 medicine (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    describes a part of the body that is lower than the heart.

    referring to a body part positioned lower than the heart, where fluid tends to collect due to gravity.

    Example

    The patient had swelling in their dependent limbs after standing all day.

    Example

    The physician noted significant dependent oedema in the patient's lower legs, likely exacerbated by prolonged periods of sitting without elevation.

  3. 5 a person you support (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    a person, like a child, who depends on you for money and a home.

    a person who relies on another for financial support, often used in legal or tax contexts.

    Example

    He has three dependents, including two young children and his elderly father.

    Example

    The insurance policy provides comprehensive coverage for the primary holder as well as any legal dependents living in the same household.

    Usage

    In British English, the noun is often spelled 'dependant', while the adjective is 'dependent'.

    Teacher's tip

    In American English, 'dependent' is used for both the noun and adjective. In British English, the 'ant' ending is the standard for the person.
  4. 6 grammar (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    a word or phrase that adds information to a main word.

    an element in a phrase or clause that is not the head, such as a modifier or a complement.

    Example

    In the phrase 'very tall', the word 'very' is a dependent of 'tall'.

    Example

    The structural analysis of the sentence requires identifying the head of each phrase and its associated dependents to determine the hierarchy.
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.

Word family

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