A dependency is a country which is controlled by another country.
...the tiny British dependency of Montserrat in the eastern Caribbean.
2. uncountable noun
You talk about someone's dependency when they have a deep emotional, physical, or financial need for a particular person or thing, especially one that you consider excessive or undesirable.
We worried about his dependency on his mother. [+ on]
Synonyms: overreliance, need, attachment, reliance More Synonyms of dependency
3. variable noun [usually noun NOUN]
If you talk about alcohol dependency or chemical dependency, you are referring to a situation where someone is an alcoholic or is addicted to drugs.
[mainly US]
The medicine may also create chemical dependency.
She quit her teaching job because her dependency had affected her work.
More Synonyms of dependency
dependency in British English
or sometimes US dependancy (dɪˈpɛndənsɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-cies
1.
a territory subject to a state on which it does not border
2.
a dependent or subordinate person or thing
3. psychology
overreliance by a person on another person or on a drug, etc
4. another word for dependence
dependency in American English
(diˈpɛndənsi; dɪˈpɛnˈdənsi)
nounWord forms: pluraldeˈpendencies
1.
dependence
2.
something dependent or subordinate
3.
a land or territory geographically distinct from the country governing it, and held in trust or as a possession, etc. in a subordinate status
4.
addiction to alcohol or drugs
Also spelled deˈpendancy
COBUILD Collocations
dependency
benefit dependency
Examples of 'dependency' in a sentence
dependency
Our work reduces aid dependency, providing good value for money.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
That it has had no measurable effect on school performance, job prospects, criminality or welfare dependency.
The Sun (2016)
How can you free yourself from alcohol dependency?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We reject a blanket acceptance of dependency and reduce its usefulness to some marginal academic validity.
Ramirez-Faria, Carlos The Origins of Economic Inequality between Nations: A critique of Western theorieson development and underdevelopment (1990)
We have absolutely no emotional dependency on each other.
Butterworth, Jane Why Am I Afraid to Divorce? (1994)
Throw off the chains of chemical dependency.
Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)
What about the culture of employer dependency?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We now have a big problem with welfare dependency.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is no evidence of physical dependency or any danger of fatal overdose.
Cohen, Julian & Kay, James Taking Drugs Seriously (1994)
The proposal has emerged as a key plank in the drive to reduce benefits dependency.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There were decades of drug dependency and family tragedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We cannot afford to continue with this culture of dependency.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The upper class has a welfare dependency problem as well as the underclass.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It sustained her in the last years when failing health was increasing her physical dependency.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Perhaps this represents an underlying dependency need that they were managing to keep in check before their accident.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
The poor weather did not dissuade people from abandoning their clothes in protest against oil dependency and promoting cycle safety.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
One is the shrinking dependency ratio.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
It was meant to be high dependency unit but it wasn't.
The Sun (2012)
It has no oil, but neither does it have the curse of oil dependency.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
When the dependency ratio includes both youth and elderly, it is referred to as total dependency ratio.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
Their approach has helped to fuel the growth of long-term dependency, both financial and physical.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They miss days, do sloppy work, relapse into chemical dependency.
Christianity Today (2000)
Port on time and under budget a few months ago on the back of a blueprint that sets the nation's course away from oil dependency.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
dependency
British English: dependency NOUN
A dependency is a country which is controlled by another country.
...the tiny British dependency of Montserrat in the eastern Caribbean.
American English: dependency
Brazilian Portuguese: colônia
Chinese: 附属国
European Spanish: dependencia
French: dépendance
German: Schutzgebiet
Italian: territorio dipendente
Japanese: 保護領
Korean: 보호령
European Portuguese: colónia
Latin American Spanish: dependencia
All related terms of 'dependency'
co-dependency
a state of mutual dependence between two people, esp when one partner relies emotionally on supporting and caring for the other partner
high-dependency
needing or providing a more than usually high level of healthcare
Ross Dependency
a section of Antarctica administered by New Zealand . ( Claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty of 1959.) Includes the coastal regions of Victoria Land and King Edward VII Land, the Ross Sea and islands , and the Ross Ice Shelf . Area: about 414 400 sq km (160 000 sq miles)
benefit dependency
You talk about someone's dependency when they have a deep emotional , physical, or financial need for a particular person or thing, especially one that you consider excessive or undesirable .
dependency grammar
a type of generative grammar in which grammatical structure is determined by the relationship between a governor and its dependents
chemical dependency
addiction to drugs or alcohol
dependency allowance
an allowance paid by a government to a person who cares for dependants
codependent
psychologically influenced or controlled by, reliant on, or needing another person who is addicted to alcohol , drugs, etc.
1 (noun)
Definition
a territory subject to a state on which it does not border
a tiny European dependency
Synonyms
province
the Algarve, Portugal's southernmost province
colony
Cyprus, a former British colony, gained independence in 1960.
outpost
dominion
The Republic is a dominion of the Brazilian people.
protectorate
2 (noun)
Definition
overreliance on another person or on a drug
A child has a natural dependency on its mother.
Synonyms
overreliance
need
attachment
reliance
the country's increasing reliance on foreign aid
3 (noun)
He began to show signs of caffeine dependency.
Synonyms
addiction
She helped him fight his drug addiction.
dependence
Some doctors regard drug dependence as a psychological disorder.
craving
need
habit
Biting your nails is a bad habit.
obsession
yet another man with an obsession about football
enslavement
overreliance
Additional synonyms
in the sense of colony
Definition
the territory occupied by such a settlement
Cyprus, a former British colony, gained independence in 1960.
Synonyms
settlement,
territory,
province,
possession,
dependency,
outpost,
dominion,
satellite state,
community
in the sense of dependence
Some doctors regard drug dependence as a psychological disorder.
Synonyms
overreliance,
need,
addiction,
reliance,
attachment
in the sense of dominion
Definition
(formerly) a self-governing division of the British Empire
The Republic is a dominion of the Brazilian people.