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.
Those calls could include requests for help with mental health crises, drug and chemical dependencies, memory care and senior care issues. Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025 Cross-border commerce has been a major driver of growth in Mexico, but dependency on the U.S. is now a liability for Mexico. Nathaniel Parish Flannery, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 The result is a system that makes traditional notions of childhood – with its unwieldy dependencies, its inefficient play and its demands for attention and care – increasingly untenable. Anna Mae Duane, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2025 Beijing is counting on its subsidized companies being able to weather those tariffs, given the dependency of US industries on Chinese goods – and to have its own firms ultimately come out dominant. Simone McCarthy, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dependency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dependency. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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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