dependency

noun

de·​pen·​den·​cy di-ˈpen-dən(t)-sē 

plural dependencies

1

: dependence sense 1

2

: something that is dependent on something else

especially : a territorial unit under the jurisdiction of a nation but not formally annexed by it

3

: a building (such as a stable) that is an adjunct to a main dwelling

Synonyms of dependency

• dependence
• reliance

Examples of dependency in a Sentence

the country's dependency on foreign oil

a dependency on foreign oil

Recent Examples on the Web

That success rate represents a remarkable transformation, but it is built on a deep dependency on foreign arms purchases, maintenance contracts, and training agreements. —Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026

Glazer ordered that Rivera have no unsupervised contact with her son, subject to what is ordered in dependency court. —April 10, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026

These images hold an application’s source code and all the tools, dependencies, and libraries an application’s code needs to run as a container. —Felysha Walker, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026

The one that resonates most with me is the push to end our dependency on fossil fuels and move toward clean energy sources, such as solar and wind. —Denise St. Pierre, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

depend(ent) entry 1 + -ency

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dependency

• ascendancy
• ascendency
• independency
• interdependency
• superintendency
• pendency
• tendency

Kids Definition

dependency

noun

de·​pend·​en·​cy

di-ˈpen-dən-sē

plural dependencies

1

: dependence sense 1

2

: a territory under the authority of a nation but not formally a part of it

Medical Definition

dependency

noun

de·​pen·​den·​cy -dən-sē 

plural dependencies

: dependence