Dependent

Dependent is an adjective describing something that relies on or is contingent upon another thing for support, existence, or validity. The term is used across different fields with related but distinct senses. It can refer to a person who relies on another for financial support or shelter, to a grammatical form that cannot stand on its own, or to objects and processes that depend on conditions or relationships.

In grammar, a dependent clause (also called a subordinate clause) cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and must be joined to an independent clause. Examples include "Because it rained" or "Although tired, he persisted."

In statistics and probability, dependent means that the outcome or value of one element influences another. A dependent variable changes in response to changes in explanatory variables; in probability, dependent events have probabilities that are affected by prior outcomes, unlike independent events.

In law and taxation, a dependent is a person whose support is provided by another and who may qualify for benefits, exemptions, or credits. Qualifications vary by jurisdiction but typically involve a relationship (such as child or relative), residency, age, and income limits.

In health and social care, dependence describes the level of assistance a person needs with activities of daily living and medical tasks. Assessments of dependence inform care planning, eligibility for services, and caregiver support.