co-dependent

adjective

Mutually dependent (especially of an unhealthy psychological relationship in which one person perpetuates another's addiction or harmful behaviour).

OriginEnglish dependent ← Latin co- ← Proto-Italic *kom- →
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Meanings

adjectiveco-dependent (comparative more co-dependent, superlative most co-dependent)

comparative more co-dependent · superlative most co-dependent · alternative codependent

  1. Mutually dependent (especially of an unhealthy psychological relationship in which one person perpetuates another's addiction or harmful behaviour).
nounco-dependent (plural co-dependents)

plural co-dependents · alternative codependent

  1. A person in such a relationship.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱe?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm
  3. Proto-Italic*kom
  4. Proto-Italic*kom-
  5. Latincon-
  6. Latinco-
  7. Englishco-
  8. Englishdependent
  9. Englishco-dependent

From co- + dependent.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

co-dependent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/co-dependent

MLA

“co-dependent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/co-dependent. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “co-dependent,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/co-dependent.

Source: co-dependent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.