dependence

Definitions

depend (hang from / rely on) + -ence (state) = the state of hanging from another. Neutral for ordinary reliance (economic dependence) and clinical for addiction (drug dependence), where the body now 'hangs' on a substance to function.

Common Collocations

• 1.drug dependence药物成瘾
• 2.economic dependence经济依赖
• 3.dependence on对……的依赖
• 4.financial dependence财务依赖

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The country's dependence on imported oil worries economists.

• 2.

  Long-term use can lead to physical dependence.

• 3.

  He resented his growing dependence on his family.

Easily Confused

dependence vs dependency — Largely interchangeable, but dependency more often names a thing that depends (a colonial dependency, a software dependency) or the addiction sense, while dependence more often names the abstract state of relying. State of relying → dependence; the dependent entity → dependency.