dependency

American  

[dih-pen-duhn-see] / dɪˈpɛn dən si /

Or dependancy

noun

plural

dependencies

1. the state of being dependent; dependence.

2. something dependent or subordinate; appurtenance.

3. an outbuilding or annex.

4. a subject territory that is not an integral part of the ruling country.

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dependency British  

/ dɪˈpɛndənsɪ /

noun

1. a territory subject to a state on which it does not border

2. a dependent or subordinate person or thing

3. psychol overreliance by a person on another person or on a drug, etc

4. another word for dependence

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Other Word Forms

• nondependancy noun
• nondependency noun
• self-dependency noun

Etymology

Origin of dependency

First recorded in 1585–95; dependence + -y ³

Example Sentences

“Our SemiCab platform breaks that dependency by embedding intelligence directly into the freight operating system.”

From MarketWatch

Unable to sustain Europe’s balance of power themselves, Europeans were “reduced to dependency on one or the other global superpower.”

From The Wall Street Journal

In a passionate address he declared that the continent had lost its sovereignty and was caught in a dependency trap.

From BBC

When do competitively priced imports become an intolerable dependency?

From The Wall Street Journal

Lagarde also echoed sovereignty arguments, saying: "It will be built on a fully European infrastructure, avoiding an excessive dependency on foreign providers for payment systems that are critical to the functioning of our economy."

From Barron's