Crossword Genius

Increase dependency? Not Charlie! (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

addition

'increase' is the definition.
(addition is a kind of increase)

'dependency? not charlie' is the wordplay.
'dependency?' becomes 'addiction' ('addiction' can be a synonym of 'dependency').
'not' is a deletion indicator.
'charlie' becomes 'c' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'addiction' with 'c' taken out is 'ADDITION'.

(Other definitions for addition that I've seen before include "Mathematical process" , "plus" , "Rider" , "Mathematical procedure" , "Simple kind of arithmetic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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