dependency

Noun

dependency (countable and uncountable, plural dependencies)

1. A state of dependence; a refusal to exercise initiative.
   • Frank's sullen dependency was driving his father nuts.
2. Something dependent on, or subordinate to, something else
   • In the United States' governmental structure, the military is conceived as a dependency under the executive branch.
3. The status of being a legal dependent; the relationship between a dependent and their provider.
   • In discussing this dependency, the Board said that there was clearly such a relationship. Charles Glassman, Donovan's attorney, said "Finnerty [worked] as deputy district attorney and Donovan lived off [Finnerty's] salary."1983 December 31, Christine Guilfoy, “Gay Man in California Granted Survivor Benefits”, in Gay Community News, volume 11, number 24, page 1
   • The rules for dependency require that the person claiming the dependency provide more than half of the children's support for the year. Length of time spent with the child is not a consideration. Since your parents probably paid more, they get to claim the dependencies.1999 March 12, TexTax2, “child deductions”, in misc.taxes.moderated (Usenet)
4. A colony, or a territory subject to rule by an external power.
   • ‘I have a little theory which you Messieurs who go out there must help me to prove. This is my share in the advantages my country shall reap from the possession of such a magnificent dependency.’1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 201

   Synonyms:

   colony, protectorate, province, dominion

5. A dependence on a habit-forming substance such as a drug or alcohol.

   Synonyms:

   addiction

6. Reliance on the functionality provided by some other, external component.
   • This library has dependencies on a lot of other libraries. We have to compile all of those other libraries first.
7. An external component whose functionality is relied on.
   • One of this library's dependencies is very finicky. It can be hard to get it to compile on some systems.