# dependency

/dɪˈpɛndənsi/ (US) · /dɪpˈɛndənsi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dependency
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. reliance on something

noun · CEFR B2

a situation where you need someone or something to help you or to work correctly.

For teachers: the state of being dependent on or controlled by someone or something else.

- The small island's dependency on tourism makes it vulnerable during the winter months.
- The economic dependency of the satellite states on the central government created a fragile system that collapsed once subsidies were withdrawn.

### 2. addiction

noun · CEFR B2

a physical or mental need for a drug, alcohol, or a specific habit.

For teachers: a state of physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance.

- He sought medical help to overcome his dependency on sleeping pills.
- Long-term chemical dependency often requires a combination of clinical detoxification and sustained psychological support to prevent relapse.

### 3. computing requirement

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a piece of software or a file that another program needs in order to run.

For teachers: a software component, library, or module that is required by another piece of software to function correctly.

- Before you can install the game, you must download a few dependencies first.
- The build failed because the compiler could not resolve a version conflict between two shared dependencies in the project manifest.

Usage: Often used in the plural when referring to a list of required libraries.

### 4. a territory

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a country or area that is controlled by another, more powerful country.

For teachers: a territory or colony that is subject to the jurisdiction of an external power but not formally annexed.

- The region remains a British overseas dependency with its own local government.
- The constitutional status of the dependency was debated in the international court, as the local population sought greater self-determination.

## Examples

- The child showed a strong dependency on his parents.
- The company's heavy dependency on one supplier made it vulnerable to price hikes.
- Modern software architecture aims to reduce dependency between modules, allowing developers to update individual components without breaking the entire system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.