codependency

American  

[koh-di-pen-duhn-see] / ˌkoʊ dɪˈpɛn dən si /

noun

plural

codependencies

1. an emotionally maladaptive pattern of behavior in which two people are overly reliant on one another, particularly in contexts where one person requires a high degree of support and the other feels defined by the support they give: the relationship between two such individuals.

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Other Word Forms

• codependence noun

Example Sentences

When people have financial difficulties, they can become codependent — but that’s not your codependency, it’s his, and it takes two people to form an unhealthy bond.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026

He devotes an additional five days to making his podcast, which releases two episodes a week — one an interview with a guest, the other offering guidance on topics like discipline, codependency and body image.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2023

“Self-disturbances” characterize conditions such as psychosis, depersonalization, borderline personality disorder, codependency, eating disorders and dissociation, among many others.

From Scientific American • Jun. 14, 2023

“The love between Nancy and Bill is genuine,” Mutu said, referring to their codependency as fascinating.

From New York Times • May 1, 2023

The campaign was meant to debunk the whole concept of codependency, which is not based on fact or science.

From Salon • Nov. 26, 2022