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

• dependence
• dependance
• reliance

Examples of dependency in a Sentence

the country's dependency on foreign oil

a dependency on foreign oil

Recent Examples on the Web

Visualize data dependencies to identify high-value data objects and understand existing workflows. —Devang Pandya, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

Car dependency forces millions to borrow for an asset that immediately loses value, draining their wealth while binding them to a lifestyle with no real exit. —Henrietta Moore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025

Italy's been going strong at building out its LNG infrastructure to reduce its dependency on Russian gas. —Steve Sedgwick, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025

Carl De Souza/AFP via Getty Images What To Know The consequences are both predictable and severe: fewer workers to sustain economic output, rising dependency ratios, and mounting pressure on pensions and public health care systems already facing resource constraints. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

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