independent

1 of 2

adjective

in·​de·​pen·​dent ˌin-də-ˈpen-dənt How to pronounce independent (audio)
1
: not dependent: such as
a(1)
: not subject to control by others : self-governing
(2)
: not affiliated with a larger controlling unit
an independent bookstore
b(1)
: not requiring or relying on something else : not contingent
an independent conclusion
(2)
: not looking to others for one's opinions or for guidance in conduct
(3)
: not bound by or committed to a political party
c(1)
: not requiring or relying on others (as for care or livelihood)
independent of her parents
(2)
: being enough to free one from the necessity of working for a living
a person of independent means
d
: showing a desire for freedom
an independent manner
e(1)
: not determined by or capable of being deduced or derived from or expressed in terms of members (such as axioms or equations) of the set under consideration
especially : having linear independence
an independent set of vectors
(2)
: having the property that the joint probability (as of events or samples) or the joint probability density function (as of random variables) equals the product of the probabilities or probability density functions of separate occurrence
2
capitalized : of or relating to the Independents
3
a
: main sense 5
an independent clause
b
: neither deducible from nor incompatible with another statement
independent postulates
independently adverb

independent

2 of 2

noun

1
: one that is independent
especially, often capitalized : one that is not bound by or definitively committed to a political party
2
capitalized : a sectarian of an English religious movement for congregational autonomy originating in the late 16th century, giving rise to Congregationalists, Baptists, and Friends, and forming one of the major political groupings of the period of Cromwell
Choose the Right Synonym for independent

free, independent, sovereign, autonomous mean not subject to the rule or control of another.

free stresses the complete absence of external rule and the full right to make all of one's own decisions.

you're free to do as you like

independent implies a standing alone; applied to a state it implies lack of connection with any other having power to interfere with its citizens, laws, or policies.

the colony's struggle to become independent

sovereign stresses the absence of a superior power and implies supremacy within a thing's own domain or sphere.

separate and sovereign armed services

autonomous stresses independence in matters pertaining to self-government.

in this denomination each congregation is regarded as autonomous

Examples of independent in a Sentence

Adjective The country recently became independent. They have a good deal of independent authority. She has an independent income. Another laboratory has provided independent confirmation of the test results. She is a very independent person. She has an independent mind. They lead an independent life. Noun She registered to vote as an Independent.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The retailer operates more than 2,700 stores globally, including over 1,000 independent store locations in the United States. Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 But a lot of the folks are individual independent businesses—like, for example, a window washer or a landscaper, a small business in a local community—and those are much harder to automate. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 Differentiation has been the greater challenge in this race, and Monday night was an opportunity to cut through. Braun, who the first independent poll shows is leading the race by double digits, and Crouch, second in that poll, took the brunt of the attacks. Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024 Polls show the Biden-Harris campaign faces an uncertain path toward reelection, despite Trump’s ongoing legal troubles and skepticism by independent and Republican voters that his second stint in the White House would prove any less chaotic than the first. Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 The move has the potential to transfer responsibility of investigating wrongdoing by Law and Justice to an independent European body rather than handling it locally. Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024 The most rewarding aspect of being an independent artist is being able to keep creative control. Spin Contributor, SPIN, 12 Mar. 2024 The forum is a nonpartisan, independent policy research organization. Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 This story was produced with financial support from The Pérez Family Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
The practical goal was to knock out Larry Turner, a San Diego police officer and political independent, in the primary. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 The union also has hosted roundtables with other candidates, including independents Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West. Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 But despite the loss of support among some progressives, who make up much of Sanders' base, the Vermont independent presented a clear choice between Mr. Biden and the likely GOP nominee, former President Donald Trump. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2024 Senate Democrats this cycle are defending 23 seats, including three held by independents who caucus with Democrats. Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024 Haley won independents who voted in the Republican primaries in state after state, but there weren't enough of them. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024 Pegging herself as the best option to avoid another Trump presidency also endeared Haley to independents and even some Democratic donors. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 In New Hampshire in January, Ms. Haley won independents by 58 percent to 39 percent, according to exit polls. Michael C. Bender, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Her eldest daughter, Jennifer, a master’s student at San Jose State, filed the FAFSA as an independent, but struggled to understand the form’s new jargon. Hannah Poukish, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'independent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of independent was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near independent

Cite this Entry

“Independent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/independent. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

independent

1 of 2 adjective
in·​de·​pen·​dent ˌin-də-ˈpen-dənt How to pronounce independent (audio)
1
: not being controlled or ruled by another : free
an independent nation
2
: not having connections with another : separate
the same story told by independent witnesses
3
: having or providing enough money to live on without anyone else's help
also : not having to work for a living
a person of independent means
4
: not easily influenced
an independent mind
5
: having full meaning in itself and capable of standing alone as a simple sentence : main entry 2
an independent clause
6
: not belonging to a political party
7
: having probabilities such that whether or not one event takes place does not influence whether or not another event takes place
the outcomes of the tossing of two dice are independent
independently adverb

independent

2 of 2 noun
: one that is independent
especially : a voter who doesn't belong to a political party

Legal Definition

independent

adjective
in·​de·​pen·​dent
1
: not dependent on others (as parents) for livelihood
especially : not a dependent
declared she was independent on her financial aid form
2
a
: not affiliated with another usually larger unit
an independent adjuster
b
: not contingent on something else
an independent promise
independence noun
independently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on independent

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