dependent
English meaning: Dependent
Definition
One who relies on another for support
Example
“With two children and an ailing mother, she had three dependents in all.”
Another example: “Each employee may add dependents to the health insurance plan.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Noun for someone who relies on another for support, especially financially ('claim for your dependents'); also an adjective ('dependent on aid'). The noun is often spelled 'dependant' in British English. Common in tax, family and statistical contexts.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin dependere 'to hang from, depend', from de- plus pendere 'to hang', dating to the 14th century.
Synonyms
Antonyms / Opposites
- independent
- self-sufficient
- autonomous
Related Words
- origination
- variable
- clauses
- variables
- dependence
- upon
- clause
- territories
- agriculture
- verb
Common Collocations
- dependent on
- financially dependent
- dependent child
- heavily dependent
- dependent variable
- tax dependent
Word Forms
depend (v); dependent (adj/n); dependents; dependence (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B