codependency

American  

[koh-di-pen-duhn-see] / ˌkoʊ dɪˈpɛn dən si /

noun

• codependencies
  plural

1. an emotionally maladaptive pattern of behavior in which two people are overly reliant on one another, particularly in contexts where one person requires a high degree of support and the other feels defined by the support they give: the relationship between two such individuals.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• codependence
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• codependencies
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

codependency codependencies

When people have financial difficulties, they can become codependent — but that’s not your codependency, it’s his, and it takes two people to form an unhealthy bond.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 21, 2026

“Self-disturbances” characterize conditions such as psychosis, depersonalization, borderline personality disorder, codependency, eating disorders and dissociation, among many others.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 14, 2023

“The love between Nancy and Bill is genuine,” Mutu said, referring to their codependency as fascinating.

From New York Times ● May 1, 2023

The campaign was meant to debunk the whole concept of codependency, which is not based on fact or science.

From Salon ● Nov. 26, 2022

Specializes in trauma, grief and loss, LGBTQ/sexuality, abuse, codependency, and separation and divorce.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2022

But in real life, he said, these couples are often based on codependencies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2022

Concern: We continue to look at the partnership between federal government and states, and you know there are a lot of codependencies for very important programs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2017