/ dɪˈpendəns; NAmE / noun [ U ]
1.
dependence (on / upon sb/sth) the state of needing the help and support of sb/sth in order to survive or be successful :
his dependence on his parents
Our relationship was based on mutual dependence.
the dependence of Europe on imported foods
financial / economic dependence
OPP independence
2.
(also de·pend·ency ) the state of being addicted to sth (= unable to stop taking or using it) :
drug / alcohol dependence
3.
dependence of A and B ( technical ) the fact of one thing being affected by another :
the close dependence of soil and landforms
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense hanging down or something that hangs down ): from Old French dependance , from the verb dependre , from Latin dependere , from de- down + pendere hang.