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

Leaders who intend to be helpful may instead create dependency and hesitation. —Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025

Host Carmela Wallace founded Live Free 999 in honor of her son to normalize conversations about mental health and substance dependency while providing young people with vital resources. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2025

This would mark a departure from current policy, where loan limits vary based on factors like dependency status and year in school. —Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

Open source models hallucinated the most, with 21 percent of the dependencies linking to non-existent libraries. —Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 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