dependency

noun

de·​pen·​den·​cy di-ˈpen-dən(t)-sē How to pronounce dependency (audio)
plural dependencies
1
2
: something that is dependent on something else
especially : a territorial unit under the jurisdiction of a nation but not formally annexed by it
3
: a building (such as a stable) that is an adjunct to a main dwelling

Examples of dependency in a Sentence

the country's dependency on foreign oil a dependency on foreign oil
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This approach will lead to a gradual reduction of dependency as components are moved to separate services. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 But this dependency was not mutual: Jones’ productions during this era — for the Johnson Brothers, George Benson, Chaka Khan, and Donna Summer, among others — can hold their own against Jackson’s finest. Elias Leight, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024 Leaders like Louisiana State Senator Elbert Guillory argue that real progress requires breaking free from dependency on government programs. Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 One hundred and forty-one respondents had cannabis use disorder, a condition marked by a dependency on marijuana that affects three in 10 people who use it; the other 87 had used marijuana in the past but not as frequently and not within the three months prior to the study. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dependency 

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dependency was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near dependency

Cite this Entry

“Dependency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dependency. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dependency

noun
de·​pend·​en·​cy
di-ˈpen-dən-sē
plural dependencies
1
2
: a territory under the authority of a nation but not formally a part of it

Medical Definition

dependency

noun
de·​pen·​den·​cy -dən-sē How to pronounce dependency (audio)
plural dependencies

More from Merriam-Webster on dependency

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