dependency

/dɪˈpɛndənsi/

//dɪˈpɛndənsi// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"dependency" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“dependency” has 16 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #14,509. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#14,509
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords
16
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A state of dependence; a refusal to exercise initiative.

Corpus desk

Index EN-dependency · dependency · English

dependency · rank #14,509 · 16 variants · 2 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #14,509
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 2 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 16 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH denim

Nearest frequency peer: denim (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “dependency”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “dependency” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

dependency vs dependent
80% similar
dependency vs dependence
90% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for dependency
PropertyValue
Headworddependency
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/dɪˈpɛndənsi/
Letters10
Frequency rank#14,509
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “dependency”

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).dependencylands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “denim” (#14,508), “detecting” (#14,510), “dew” (#14,511). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “dependency” is #14,509. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 16 spelling variants around dependency (IPA /dɪˈpɛndənsi/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #14,509 among 3,470 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 7 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for dependency, with forms such as "ddependency", "deepndency", and "depednency". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "dependent", "dependence", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From dependent + -cy or dependence + -y or depend + -ency. The correct English form is dependency, spelled D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-C-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    A state of dependence; a refusal to exercise initiative.
  2. 2
    Something dependent on, or subordinate to, something else
  3. 3
    The status of being a legal dependent; the relationship between a dependent and their provider.
  4. 4
    A colony, or a territory subject to rule by an external power.
  5. 5
    A dependence on a habit-forming substance such as a drug or alcohol.
  6. 6
    Reliance on the functionality provided by some other, external component.
  7. 7
    An external component whose functionality is relied on.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how dependency appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Frank's sullen dependency was driving his father nuts.
  2. In the United States' governmental structure, the military is conceived as a dependency under the executive branch.

Etymology

From dependent + -cy or dependence + -y or depend + -ency.

This word in other languages

dependencia(Español)dépendance(Français)Abhängigkeit(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ddependency
  • deepndency
  • depednency
  • dependdency
  • dependecny
  • dependenccy
  • dependencyy
  • dependenncy
  • dependenyc
  • dependnecy
  • depenedncy
  • depenndency
  • depnedency
  • deppendency
  • dpeendency
  • edpendency

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of dependency - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ddependency1deepndency2depednency2dependdency1dependecny2dependenccy1dependencyy1dependenncy1
Edit distance from "dependency"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "dependency"?
"dependency" is spelled D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-C-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈpɛndənsi/.
What does "dependency" mean?
As a noun, "dependency" means: A state of dependence; a refusal to exercise initiative.
What words are commonly confused with "dependency"?
"dependency" is commonly confused with "dependent", "dependence". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "dependency"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "dependency" is /dɪˈpɛndənsi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "dependency"?
From dependent + -cy or dependence + -y or depend + -ency. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "dependency", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

enrichment#14,523Buckingham#14,484freshwater#14,547adrenaline#14,459

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (16 here; floor ≥5).

Huntington16 variantsKensington16 variantsresembling16 variantssensational16 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list