EnglishMain Dictionary
dependency
Universal Words
noun (plural dependencies)
1 [U] ~ (on / upon sb/sth) the state of relying on sb/sth for sth, especially when this is not normal or necessary:
financial / economic dependency * Their aim is to reduce people's dependency on the welfare state. * the dependency culture (= a way of life on which people are too dependent on money from the government)
2 [C] a country, an area, etc. that is controlled by another country:
The Orkney islands were formerly dependencies of Norway and Denmark.
3 = DEPENDENCE(2)