dependency

noun de·pen·den·cy \ -dən(t)-sē \

Definition of dependency

plural dependencies

1 :dependence 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

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Examples of dependency in a Sentence

the country's dependency on foreign oil
a dependency on foreign oil

Recent Examples of dependency from the Web

Presumably this would help break the dependency of schools on property taxes, which favor wealthy communities over poor ones.

— ben joravsky, Chicago Reader, "The Illinois school funding ‘compromise’ smells like Democratic betrayal," 29 Aug. 2017
But what has become clearer now than ever is the system of dependency that has been developed under the COFA.

— National Geographic, "This Pacific Island Is Caught in a Global Power Struggle (And It's Not Guam)," 15 Aug. 2017
McCorkel was one of 25 graduates of the jail's addiction treatment programs, which include chemical dependency and addiction and the more intensive therapeutic community, the program McCorkel participated in.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "'I know what I need to do': Porter County fights drug addiction from inside jail walls," 9 Aug. 2017
The majority of inmates suffering from dependency are addicted to heroin, Capasso said, but the substance abuse unit is available to inmates with any type of addiction.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Harford jail unit aids inmates serious about recovery from addiction," 7 Aug. 2017
Saint Louis expertly captures the human stories at the intersection of the wonder of childbirth and the grip of drug dependency in a Kentucky hospital, all while keeping the epidemic in view.

— vann r. newkirk ii, The Atlantic, "What The 'Crack Baby' Panic Reveals About The Opioid Epidemic," 16 July 2017
If someone has developed a dependency to alcohol and you suddenly remove it from their system, those chemicals can overstimulate the brain and body.

— julia naftulin, Health.com, "Here's How Alcohol Withdrawal Can Lead to Heart Failure," 11 July 2017
McCanna is at the forefront of a new movement in U.S. medicine to fight drug dependency.

— john lauerman, chicagotribune.com, "Surgery minus morphine - getting opioids out of the OR," 10 July 2017
Klinger said Hagerty will make exceptions, such as for retirees or for people who live in dense urban areas, or other examples in which there is less dependency on driving.

— david muller, Car and Driver, "Here’s What to Know about Insuring an Obscure Imported Car," 7 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dependency.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dependency

1594

dependency Synonyms

Synonyms

dependence, reliance

Antonyms

independence, independency, self-dependence, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, self-support

Related Words

reciprocity, relativity; confidence, credence, faith, stock, trust

Near Antonyms

autonomy, self-determination, sovereignty (also sovranty)

DEPENDENCY Defined for English Language Learners

dependency

noun

Definition of dependency for English Language Learners

: the quality of being dependent
: an area that is controlled by a country but that is not formally a part of it

Medical Dictionary

dependency

noun de·pen·den·cy \ -dən-sē \

medical Definition of dependency

plural dependencies

:dependence

Learn More about dependency

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dependency Spanish Central: Translation of dependency Nglish: Translation of dependency for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dependency for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dependency

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Examples of dependency in a Sentence

Recent Examples of dependency from the Web

First Known Use of dependency

dependency Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

DEPENDENCY Defined for English Language Learners

dependency

Definition of dependency for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

dependency

medical Definition of dependency

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