# dependent

> English word · Adjective · IPA /dɪˈpɛndənt/ · frequency rank #4,440

## Definitions
1. Relying upon; depending upon.
2. Having a probability that is affected by the outcome of a separate event.
3. Used after a particle (with one or two exceptions), such as those which express questions, subordinate clauses, and negative sentences.
4. Of part of the body: positioned lower than the heart, like the legs while standing up, or the back while supine.
5. Hanging down.

## Etymology
From Middle English dependaunt, dependent, from Middle French dependant (present participle of dependre (“to depend”)) and Latin dēpendēns (present participle of dēpendeō (“to depend”)). By surface analysis, depend + -ent.

## Easily confused with
- **depending** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dependent-vs-depending)
- **despondent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dependent-vs-despondent)
- **depended** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/depended-vs-dependent)
- **defendant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defendant-vs-dependent)
- **dependant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dependant-vs-dependent)
- **dependence** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dependence-vs-dependent)
- **dependency** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dependency-vs-dependent)

## Common misspellings (14)
`ddependent`, `deepndent`, `depednent`, `dependdent`, `dependennt`, `dependentt`, `dependetn`, `dependnet`, `depenednt`, `depenndent`, `depnedent`, `deppendent`, `dpeendent`, `edpendent`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dependent