noun
Uncommon
dependency
dih-PEHN-duhn-see
Dependency (noun) means a strong reliance on someone or something, especially a habit-forming substance. Example: “The clinic specialises in treating alcohol dependency.”
noun
1
A strong reliance on someone or something, especially a habit-forming substance.
"The clinic specialises in treating alcohol dependency."
2
A territory that is governed or controlled by another country.
"The island remains a dependency of the United Kingdom."
3
In computing, a piece of software or code that another program relies on to function.
"Updating the library broke several other dependencies in the project."
How to use dependency
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA strong reliance on something, a territory ruled by another country, or (in tech) code that other code needs to run.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
drug dependency
a British dependency
install a dependency
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Word forms
- Plural
- dependencies
Fill the gap
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The clinic specialises in treating alcohol _____.
Etymology
Built from "dependent" plus "-cy," or from "depend" plus "-ency."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dependency
agency
latency
urgency
potency
decency
regency
currency
tendency
clemency
leniency
frequency
emergency
See all rhymes for dependency →
Frequently asked questions
What does “dependency” mean?
The word “dependency” means a strong reliance on someone or something, especially a habit-forming substance. In plain terms, a strong reliance on something, a territory ruled by another country, or (in tech) code that other code needs to run.
How do you pronounce “dependency”?
“Dependency” is pronounced dih-PEHN-duhn-see (/dɪˈpɛndənsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “dependency” in a sentence?
Here is “dependency” used in a sentence: “The clinic specialises in treating alcohol dependency.”
What part of speech is “dependency”?
“Dependency” is a noun.
Is “dependency” a common word?
“Dependency” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dependency” have?
“Dependency” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong reliance on someone or something, especially a habit-forming substance.
