interdependence

American  

[in-ter-di-pen-duhns] / ˌɪn tər dɪˈpɛn dəns /

Sometimes interdependency

noun

1. the quality or condition of being interdependent, or mutually reliant on each other.

   Globalization of economies leads to an ever-increasing interdependence of countries.

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interdependence British  

/ ˌɪntədɪˈpɛndəns /

noun

1. dependence between two or more people, groups, or things

   the interdependence of economies

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interdependence Cultural  

1. In economics, the concept that all prices are to some degree affected by all other prices and also that all markets are affected by all other markets.

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Other Word Forms

• interdependency noun
• noninterdependence noun
• noninterdependency noun

Etymology

Origin of interdependence

inter- + dependence

Explanation

Interdependence is mutual dependence between things. If you study biology, you’ll discover that there is a great deal of interdependence between plants and animals. Inter- means "between," so interdependence is dependence between things. We often use interdependence to describe complex systems. Marriage creates a state of interdependence between spouses. If your dog provides you with love and happiness, and you provide your dog with food and walks (and love and happiness), then your relationship with your dog is one of interdependence.

Example Sentences

Economic interdependence does render war more costly and therefore less likely.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Greater defence spending, the prime minister argued, would mean less reliance on the United States: "We should deliver generational investments that move us from over-dependence to interdependence."

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

Warmly displaying their camaraderie and creative interdependence, Zinzi Coogler and Ohanian spilled more about their company over Zoom, including their early days, people who inspired them and how they’re adapting to the shifting media landscape.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

Economic interdependence between the two Asian powers also "creates incentives on both sides to manage relations and avoid extreme actions", Kingston added.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

Telling the time accurately was, of course, another big problem in the 1560s, long before the development of accurate clocks—one of the many examples of the interdependence of science and technology.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

• interconnection
• interrelationship
• linkage