dependency

dependency — noun

1. a condition where a person, group, or thing needs another for support, money, ca

1.nounB2
Definition

a condition where a person, group, or thing needs another for support, money, care, or resources and is unable to function normally without that help

Example

After losing his job, Ayana's dependency on her savings became a daily struggle.

dependency on [something] after a change in circumstances

The small island's heavy dependency on imported food worried local officials.

heavy dependency on [something] — adjective intensifier

Common collocations
  • financial dependency
  • economic dependency
  • dependency on
  • reduce dependency
  • heavy dependency
  • complete dependency
  • mutual dependency
Synonyms
  • dependence

    nearly identical in meaning, though dependence is slightly more neutral and can describe a simple causal link without the connotation of helplessness

  • reliance

    more neutral and can describe healthy, everyday needs (e.g. reliance on public transport); less intense than dependency

  • need

    broader word that can describe anything necessary for survival, comfort, or success; does not specify a relationship between two parties

Antonyms
  • independence

    the state of not needing outside support or control

Grammar Patterns

dependency + on/upon + noun

Usage Note

Typically followed by on or upon. Common in contexts describing financial, emotional, or operational reliance. The uncountable form is the default for abstract reliance; a dependency (countable) is almost never used for this sense.

Common Mistakes

I have a dependency on my morning coffee.
I depend on my morning coffee to wake up.
Dependency implies a serious inability to function normally, not just a mild everyday habit or preference.

2. a physical or mental condition in which someone cannot stop using a harmful subs

2.nounB2
Definition

a physical or mental condition in which someone cannot stop using a harmful substance or engaging in a harmful activity, even though it damages their health or life

Example

Putri entered a treatment centre to overcome her dependency on alcohol.

overcome + dependency on + substance

The doctor warned Andrés about the risk of dependency from long-term sleep medication.

risk of dependency from [medication type]

Common collocations
  • drug dependency
  • alcohol dependency
  • opioid dependency
  • chemical dependency
  • physical dependency
  • substance dependency
  • dependency treatment
  • dependency on painkillers
  • overcome dependency
Synonyms
  • addiction

    more common in everyday language; covers both physical and psychological compulsion, while dependency tends to highlight the physical component

  • habit

    weaker and less clinical; a habit can be broken more easily and does not necessarily involve physical withdrawal

  • substance abuse

    focuses on the harmful use pattern rather than the state of reliance itself

Antonyms
  • sobriety

    the state of being free from substance use

  • abstinence

    the practice of choosing not to use a substance at all

Grammar Patterns

dependency + on/upon + substance

Usage Note

Often modified by an adjective specifying the substance (drug, alcohol, opioid, nicotine). Can be used interchangeably with addiction in medical contexts, though dependency places more emphasis on the physical condition of reliance, while addiction also covers the behavioural and psychological compulsion.

Common Mistakes

He has a video game dependency.
He has a video game addiction.
Dependency for addiction is mainly used for substances with known physical dependence potential, not for behavioural habits.
She has dependency of painkillers.
She has a dependency on painkillers.
The correct preposition is on, not of.

3. a country or territory that is politically controlled and administered by a more

3.nounC1
Definition

a country or territory that is politically controlled and administered by a more powerful foreign country, often without full rights of self-government

Example

The small island remained a British dependency until it gained full independence in 1978.

remained a [country] dependency — historical context

Ritu studied how former colonial dependencies built their own legal systems after independence.

former + colonial + dependency — academic register

Common collocations
  • British dependency
  • Crown dependency
  • colonial dependency
  • former dependency
  • overseas dependency
Synonyms
  • colony

    more common and broader; colony can describe any settled territory under foreign control, while dependency often implies a formally subordinate political status

  • territory

    more neutral; a territory may have more autonomy than a dependency and is not necessarily controlled from overseas

  • protectorate

    a specific historical status where a powerful state guarantees protection over a weaker state while controlling its foreign affairs

Antonyms
  • sovereign state

    a fully independent country with self-government and international recognition

Grammar Patterns

a/an + dependency

former + dependency

Usage Note

Countable noun — a dependency, two dependencies. Modern usage typically refers to historical colonial possessions or current semi-autonomous territories such as the British Crown Dependencies. Distinguish from sense 1: this is a geographical/political entity, not an abstract state of need.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Dependence and reliance are the closest synonyms, both describing a situation where someone or something needs support. Dependence is often used in formal or serious contexts and can suggest a loss of control, while reliance is more neutral and can describe healthy, everyday needs — such as reliance on public transport. Need is broader and covers anything required for survival, comfort, or success; it implies less about the relationship between two parties than dependency does. Dependency carries a stronger implication that the dependent party cannot function properly without the support. For example, 'the region's dependency on oil exports' suggests vulnerability, whereas 'the region's dependence on oil exports' is more neutral, and 'the region's need for oil revenue' simply identifies a requirement.

dependence ↗reliance ↗need ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • dependency ratio
  • dependency culture
  • dependency treatment

Phrases

  • degree of dependency
  • state of dependency
  • cycle of dependency

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Dependency comes from Latin dēpendēre, meaning 'to hang down or from' — formed from dē- (down) and pendēre (to hang). The idea of 'hanging from' led to the sense of 'being under the control of another'. The word passed through French dépendance before entering English in the 16th century, originally referring to a territory under another country's control. The addiction and reliance senses developed later.