Meaning & Definition of word "Dependency"
Dependency
/dɪˈpɛndənsi/
noun:
- 1. A state of reliance or association with another entity; a condition in which something is contingent upon or influenced by something else.
- Example: The company's dependency on a single supplier made it vulnerable to market changes.
- 2. A relationship in which one party relies on another for support or help.
- Example: His emotional dependency on his friends sometimes hindered his independence.
- 3. A social or economic system in which one country or region relies heavily on another for resources or economic stability.
- Example: The country's dependency on foreign aid raises questions about its economic sovereignty.
- 4. A situation in which a person is unable to function without the assistance of a particular substance, such as a drug.
- Example: Her dependency on painkillers became apparent when she struggled to cope without them.
Etymology
●From Middle French 'dépendance', from Latin 'dependentia', meaning 'a hanging down'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
codependency:
A relationship where one person enables another's addiction, poor mental health, or underachievement.
dependency injection:
A design pattern in software development where an object receives other objects it depends on.
dependency theory:
An economic theory suggesting that resources flow from a 'periphery' of poor states to a 'core' of wealthy states.
Related Words
depend:
To rely on someone or something.
dependent:
Relying on someone or something else for support.
interdependence:
Mutual dependence between things.
Slang Meanings of dependency
Meaning: Addiction, especially to substances.
● Example Sentence: He finally admitted his dependency on alcohol.
Meaning: Feeling of needing someone in an emotionally intense relationship.
● Example Sentence: Their dependency on each other made the breakup really hard.