adjective
- relying on someone or something else for aid, support, etc.
- conditioned or determined by something else; contingent: Our trip is dependent on the weather.
- subordinate; subject: a dependent territory.
- Grammar. not used in isolation; used only in connection with other forms. In I walked out when the bell rang, when the bell rang is a dependent clause.Compare independent(def 14), main1(def 4).
- hanging down; pendent.
- Mathematics.
- (of a variable) having values determined by one or more independent variables.
- (of an equation) having solutions that are identical to those of another equation or to those of a set of equations.
- Statistics. (of an event or a value) not statistically independent.
noun
- a person who depends on or needs someone or something for aid, support, favor, etc.
- a child, spouse, parent, or certain other relative to whom one contributes all or a major amount of necessary financial support: She listed two dependents on her income-tax form.
- Archaic. a subordinate part.
adjective
- depending on a person or thing for aid, support, life, etc
- (postpositive; foll by on or upon) influenced or conditioned (by); contingent (on)
- subordinate; subjecta dependent prince
- obsolete hanging down
- maths
- (of a variable) having a value depending on that assumed by a related independent variable
- (of a linear equation) having every solution as a solution of one or more given linear equations
noun
- grammar an element in a phrase or clause that is not the governor
- a variant spelling (esp US) of dependant
15c., variant spelling of dependant, now mostly restricted to adjectival use; see -ance. Dependent variable in mathematics is recorded from 1852. adj.
- Contingent on or subordinate to another.
- Relying on or requiring the aid of another for support.
- Hanging down.
n.
- One who relies on another especially for financial support.