Requirement when born at a dead end (4)
I believe the answer is:
need
'requirement' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'born at a dead end' is the wordplay.
'born' becomes 'nee' (I've seen this before).
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'end' indicates one should take the final letters.
The final letter of 'dead' is 'd'.
'nee'+'d'='NEED'
'when' is the link.
(Other definitions for need that I've seen before include "destitute state" , "Distressful situation" , "Lack or require" , "state requiring relief" , "Want - poverty" .)