Plural of dependant; people who rely on someone else for financial support or care.
From dependent (present participle of depend, from Latin dependere) plus -ant (agent suffix) plus -s (plural). In British English, 'dependant' (noun) contrasts with 'dependent' (adjective), though American English often uses 'dependent' for both.
The British spelling 'dependant' for the noun (dependants, dependants) versus 'dependent' for the adjective is a distinction that confuses many people, but it mirrors similar patterns in English like 'immigrant' (noun) versus 'immigrating' (adjective).
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