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
His independent advocacy began in earnest in 2011, when Mr. Marcus started the Brandeis Center, based in Washington (and unaffiliated with Brandeis University in Massachusetts). Vimal Patel, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024 The push has not gained broad NATO support from nations like the U.S. or Germany, and therefore would be done on an independent basis rather than through the alliance. Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 24 Mar. 2024 The state’s Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, composed of four senators and four House representatives, approved the investigation, which will be conducted by the Office of Performance Evaluations, an independent office that audits state agencies. Wilson Criscione, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 2024 Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2024 Lambert took part in the Chatham Convention, where abolitionist John Brown and others met to set up an independent republic to free enslaved people, which eventually led to the Harpers Ferry Raid, an armed assault against a federal armory. Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 22 Mar. 2024 But, in the wake of the pandemic and last year’s Hollywood strikes, the organization, like the broader independent film community, has been facing significant financial challenges; last year, the institute laid off 6% of its staff. Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 As part of larger efforts to control independent civil society, the government of President Mahmoud Abbas has sporadically frozen the center’s bank account. Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024 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
Noun
Ferbert has stressed the need for a city attorney independent of the council and the mayor, while suggesting relationships could be improved. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024 With co-production an ever-popular resource for independents and emerging talent, the Madrid Film School (ECAM), hailed as one of the leading film schools in the world, has launched ECAM Forum, a new co-production initiative to run June 10 – 13 in Madrid. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024 Moscow’s popular mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, was the nominee for Putin’s United Russia party in his reelection campaign last year, despite running as an independent before — a move interpreted by critics as designed to stunt his political growth in a city where the ruling party is less popular. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Considering most independents lean toward one party, there are almost certainly a fair number of Democratic-leaning voters among the group of Haley independents who identified as moderate rather than conservative. Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024 Realistically, Biden’s success Thursday night was not in wooing the far right, but in giving hope to his Democratic base, independents and Never-Trumpers. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 Haley’s voters — as opposed to the candidate, herself — tended to be moderate Republicans and independents. David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 But his overwhelming victories have masked his long-term problems with suburban voters, moderates and independents. Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 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

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 29 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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