de·pend·ence
de·pend·ence <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/D01/D0188400" target="_blank"><img src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/speaker.gif" border="0" alt="dependance pronunciation" /></a> / dɪˈpɛn dəns / Show Spelled [ dih- pen -d uh ns ] noun 1. the state of relying on or needing someone or something for aid, support, or the like. 2. reliance; confidence; trust: Her complete reliability earned her our dependence. 3. an object of reliance or trust. 4. the state of being conditional or contingent on something, as through a natural or logical sequence: the dependence of an effect upon a cause. 5. the state of being psychologically or physiologically dependent on a drug after a prolonged period of use. We all have people i...