codependency

American  

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

noun

plural

codependencies

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

• codependence noun

Example Sentences

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

For years, my codependency and enmeshment kept me focused on making sure all my partner’s needs were met, so that, ideally, they might take care of me.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2025

When you’re busy falling in love, it’s easy not to see the line between romance and codependency thinning.

From Salon • Jul. 30, 2025

“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