a person who depends on another for financial support
They raise funds to help ex-service personnel and their dependants.
Synonyms
relative
rellie (Australian, slang)
child
minor
subordinate
Her subordinates respected her.
cohort mainly US)
protégé
Klimt's young protégé, Egon Schiele
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person
the Sheriff's henchman, Sir Guy of Gisborne
retainer
the ever-faithful family retainer
hanger-on
five thousand delegates, with 30,000 assorted hangers-on
minion
She delegated the job to one of her minions.
vassal
Usage note
Dependant is the generally accepted correct spelling in British usage for the noun and always refers to people: if you are single and have no dependants. The adjective should be spelt dependent: tax allowance for dependent (not dependant) children. American usage spells both adjective and noun with an e in the last syllable.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hanger-on
Definition
an unwanted follower, esp. of a rich or famous person
five thousand delegates, with 30,000 assorted hangers-on
Synonyms
parasite,
follower,
cohort (US),
leech,
dependant,
minion,
lackey,
sycophant,
freeloader (slang),
sponger (informal),
ligger (slang),
quandong (Australian, slang)
in the sense of henchman
Definition
a person employed by someone powerful to carry out orders