Does Dependable and Reliable Mean the Same Thing?

Dependable people can be relied on and reliable people can be depended on. At first glance there seems to be no obvious difference between the two words other than their spelling. The dictionary refers to dependable as a synonym of reliable and reliable as a synonym for dependable.

What does it mean to be reliable and dependable?

Dependable means "reliable, steady, trustworthy." If people can always count on you, that means you are dependable.

Is dependability the same as reliability?

Dependable is akin to reliable, but is a little more subjective; reliable is often used of relationships based on service between superiors and inferiors, whereas dependable more often suggests an attitude of personal allegiance rather than one of honesty or scrupulosity in the performance of a duty.