Meaning & use
dependent
Relying on someone or something else for support, help, or existence.
See it in a sentence
The small village remained heavily dependent on fishing for its economy.
Young children are completely dependent on their parents for food and shelter.
A note on using this word
Dependent is usually followed by 'on' or 'upon,' and is spelled 'dependant' as a noun in British English.
Words with a similar meaning
reliantcontingent
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
independentself-sufficient
Another way to use it
2. noun
A person who relies on another, especially financially, such as a child or other family member.
He listed his two children as dependents on his tax return.
Make it your own
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