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

Explanation

Dependency happens when you can't function without the help of someone or something. If you have a dependency on coffee, you need it to be human in the morning. Not sure? Ask the people you live with. A dependency on the help or support of another person isn't necessarily negative, but other kinds of dependency — on something habit-forming or addictive, like cigarettes — can be harmful. You can also use this noun to mean "a country, province, or territory controlled by a bigger, more powerful country." Guam and Puerto Rico, which don't have complete independence from the US, can be called dependencies.

Example Sentences

“I call this the social welfare state of two. We’ve privatized dependency within marriage.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said at the time, “We risk replacing one dependency with another.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

Geopolitical focus is temporary; a strong U.S. stock market and less energy import dependency could support the dollar long-term.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

If the Google dependency on Siri shrinks or gets replaced by Apple’s own foundation models, the company is building.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

District Judge Federico A. Moreno decided that the dependency court already protected foster children.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter