dependency

Plural: dependencies

Noun

• the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else
• being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)
• a geographical area politically controlled by a distant country
• A state of dependence; a refusal to exercise initiative.
• Something dependent on, or subordinate to, something else
• The status of being a legal dependent; the relationship between a dependent and their provider.
• A colony, or a territory subject to rule by an external power.
• A dependence on a habit-forming substance such as a drug or alcohol.
• Reliance on the functionality provided by some other, external component.
• An external component whose functionality is relied on.

Examples

• Frank's sullen dependency was driving his father nuts.
• In the United States' governmental structure, the military is conceived as a dependency under the executive branch.
• One of this library's dependencies is very finicky. It can be hard to get it to compile on some systems.
• This library has dependencies on a lot of other libraries. We have to compile all of those other libraries first.

Synonyms

addiction, colony, dependance, dependence, habituation, dominion, protectorate, province

Related Words

dependee, dependence, depender