dependence
This term carries a heavy weight of vulnerability and lack of autonomy. It describes a relationship where the subject is not merely assisted, but is unable to function or survive without the external support. In medical or psychological contexts, it often implies a compulsory or addictive need, such as chemical dependence, where the body has adapted to a substance. In contrast to reliance, which can be a choice or a temporary arrangement, dependence suggests a structural or systemic necessity. It evokes an image of a tether or a chain, where the stability of one entity is entirely contingent upon the presence and stability of another.
Uncountable when describing the general state of being reliant (economic dependence). Countable when referring to specific types or instances of reliance (several different dependencies in a software project).
Meanings
The state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else.
"His dependence on his parents lasted well into his thirties."
A causal relationship where one variable is determined by another.
"The study examines the dependence of crop yield on rainfall."