In British English, a dependant with an A is a person who relies on you, and dependent with an E is the adjective — dependent on funding. American English uses dependent for both. The A-for-noun pattern is British only, and it is the same shape as licence/license.
The core difference
A noun and an adjective in British English; one word in American English.
- dependant (British noun) — a person who relies on another: two dependants.
- dependent (adjective, both varieties) — relying on: dependent on aid.
- dependent (American noun) — also the noun form there.
The related pattern
British English does this elsewhere too: licence/license, practice/practise, advice/advise. The noun and verb or adjective differ by a letter. American English has simplified most of these, which is why the distinction can look fussy from that side.
Practical note
Tax and immigration forms use both spellings depending on jurisdiction. On a British form, dependants means people; on an American one, dependents does the same job.
