# dependent

/dɪˈpɛndənt/ (US) · /dɪpˈɛndənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dependent
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. relying on someone

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- The small island is heavily dependent on tourism for its income.
- The local economy remains dangerously dependent on a single manufacturing plant, leaving the community vulnerable to global market fluctuations.

### 2. affected by something else

adjective · CEFR B2

decided or changed by something else that happens.

For teachers: contingent upon or determined by another factor or event.

- Our plans for the picnic are dependent on the weather tomorrow.
- The final approval of the merger is dependent on the company meeting several strict environmental and safety regulations.

### 3. statistics

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The two events are dependent, so the first result changes the second one.
- In this statistical model, the dependent variable represents the growth rate, which we measure against several independent environmental factors.

### 4. medicine

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

- The patient had swelling in their dependent limbs after standing all day.
- The physician noted significant dependent oedema in the patient's lower legs, likely exacerbated by prolonged periods of sitting without elevation.

### 5. a person you support

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

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

Teaching 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.

### 6. grammar

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- In the phrase 'very tall', the word 'very' is a dependent of 'tall'.
- The structural analysis of the sentence requires identifying the head of each phrase and its associated dependents to determine the hierarchy.

## Examples

- He has three dependents to support on a single salary.
- When you apply for the new health insurance plan, you must list the names of all your legal dependents.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.