indie

1 of 2

noun

in·​die ˈin-dē 

plural indies

1

: someone or something that is independent : someone or something that has no formal association with a larger controlling unit

Several indies [=independent booksellers] selling new books have opened in Pittsburgh since 2016 …

—Claire Kirch

especially : an unaffiliated record, movie, or video game production company

Due to the Mekons' long and labored difficulties with major labels, [Jon] Langford now works only handshake deals with the Chicago indies who have released his different projects.

—Mark Guarino

2

: a project or work (such as a movie or video game) produced by an indie

… an indie that is definitely worthy of a night out at the movies.

—Danny Minton

If you like fast-paced and challenging combat with a sizable helping of Greek mythology, [the game] Hades is … simply one of the best indies around.

—Rhys Wood

indie

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of, relating to, or being an independent company or group : relating to someone or something that is unaffiliated

She … has been signed to the indie [=independent] label Secretly Canadian since 2018 …

—Lauren Murphy

b

: being a project or work (such as a record, movie, or video game) produced by an independent company or group

the band's first indie album after leaving the label

an indie movie made on a tiny budget

Indie games are now competing with the big studios for awards.

—Zachary Sniderman

2

: of, relating to, or being music that is characterized by artistic freedom and regarded as more avant-garde or unconventional than mainstream music in a comparable genre

These kings of hummable … indie rock may firmly insist that they're not slackers, but a near-dadaist spontaneity rules their studio approach.

—Matt Diehl

… low-key indie pop that sounds both ingratiatingly familiar and slightly alien.

—Matthew Perpetua

Their sound—a graceful blend of indie folk and chamber pop—draws from classical traditions and Americana, infused with a gentle melancholy that lingers long after the final note.

—Cheryl A. Cuddahy

Examples of indie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 47-year-old Glasgow native has been in massive franchises like X-Men and The Chronicles of Narnia as well as award-winning dramas like The Last King of Scotland and irreverent indies like Filth. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026

The project was previously in development as an indie but moved to Paramount when Lifshitz and Margules created Primal, their genre label. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The influence of Black American music was absent from not just their Warwickshire peers at the time, but all of the dour indie milieu toiling under Thatcher’s grey skies. — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026

Los Retros became an influential act in a wave of Latino bands drawing from vintage Mexican balladeers, American oldies and modern indie rock. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

by shortening & alteration from independent

First Known Use

Noun

1928, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing indie

• indie folk
• indie pop
• indie rock

Rhymes for indie

• hindi
• lindy
• sindhi
• windy