Definition of "dependency" in English

noun

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.

4. A colony, or a territory subject to rule by an external power.

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

6. (computing) 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. (computing) 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.