Dependency
/dɪˈpɛndənsi/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe state of being dependent on or controlled by someone or something else.
/dɪˈpɛndənsi/
The state of relying on or needing someone or something for support or existence.
The company's financial stability was threatened by its heavy dependency on a single supplier.
💡 Simply: Imagine needing help from someone or something else to do something or to survive. Like, a baby is dependent on its parents for food and care.
👶 For kids: When you need something or someone to help you.
More Examples
The economic dependency of developing nations on developed nations can create imbalances.
The project's success was hindered by a complex web of software dependencies.
How It's Used
"The country's dependency on foreign aid made it vulnerable."
"Software development often involves managing dependencies between different code libraries."
"Emotional dependency can be unhealthy in a romantic partnership."
Something that is reliant on or controlled by something else.
/dɪˈpɛndənsi/
A thing that relies on or is controlled by another; a subordinate or affiliated thing.
The project manager carefully documented all the project's dependencies.
💡 Simply: Think of a part of a system that needs another part to work. Like, in a computer program, if one part needs another part (like a library file) to run, that's a dependency.
👶 For kids: Something that needs another thing to work or be done.
More Examples
This software requires a dependency to be installed.
The remote territory was once a dependency of a larger nation.
How It's Used
"This library has dependencies on other packages that must also be installed."
"The colony was a dependency of the British Empire."
"Task A has a dependency on Task B; it cannot start until Task B is finished."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
chain of dependencies
A series of relationships where one thing relies on another, and that thing, in turn, relies on yet another.
"The project's failure was due to an extremely complex chain of dependencies."
create a dependency
To establish a situation where one thing becomes reliant on another.
"The new regulations are designed to create a dependency on clean energy sources."
From Middle English, from Old French *dependance*, from *dependre* ('to depend'), from Latin *dependēre* ('to hang down, depend').
The word 'dependency' has been used since the 16th century to describe a state of reliance or subjection.
Memory tip
Think of a child's dependency on their parents.
Word Origin
"to hang down, depend"