independent

adjective

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in·de·pen·dent | \ ˌin-də-ˈpen-dənt

Definition of independent

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

3a : main sense 5 an independent clause

b : neither deducible from nor incompatible with another statement independent postulates

independent

noun

Definition of independent (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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Choose the Right Synonym for independent

Adjective

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 adverse events data is closely monitored by the FDA and an independent data safety monitoring board oversees data for ongoing trials of the vaccines. — David Heath, USA Today, 3 June 2021 Voters in November approved a ballot measure calling for the creation of a new independent police oversight board that would investigate complaints against officers and discipline officers. — oregonlive, 3 June 2021 This independent board makes all the decisions relative to the prizes. — Freep.com, 2 June 2021 In the US Senate, Republicans managed to block a bill to launch an independent inquiry into the deadly January 6 attack on the Capitol. — Dean Obeidallah, CNN, 30 May 2021 Facebook’s independent oversight board has been critical of the company’s enforcement effort. — Newley Purnell, WSJ, 27 May 2021 The same month the board of the BBC appointed John Dyson, a former judge and justice of the British Supreme Court, to conduct an independent inquiry into how Bashir obtained the interview. — Dan Stewart, Time, 21 May 2021 In March, the San Isidro prosecutors' office delegated an independent medical board to determine if the health professionals were in any way culpable for Maradona's death. — Tommy Beer, Forbes, 20 May 2021 British police ruled out a criminal investigation into his actions earlier this year, but the independent inquiry's conclusions are likely to have far-reaching implications for the BBC. — NBC News, 20 May 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Anyway, Senator Bernie Sanders, the progressive independent from Vermont, thanks for coming on and sharing your perspective. — NBC News, 2 May 2021 The technology and unexpected success of hydraulic fracturing in the early 2000s made the U.S. energy independent. — Rich Karlgaard, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2021 There's also Michigan, where Democrats are trying to tilt the delegation by seizing the Grand Rapids-area district where Rep. Justin Amash, the independent aligned with Republicans, is retiring. — Lisa Mascaro, Star Tribune, 7 Oct. 2020 UConn will open its 2021 season — its first as an independent — at Fresno State on Aug. 28. — Shawn Mcfarland, courant.com, 11 May 2021 Former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine is running for mayor of his hometown of Stamford, Conn., as an independent. — BostonGlobe.com, 8 May 2021 Facing a challenge on the right from Marco Rubio, Crist dropped out of the 2010 Republican primary for US Senate and decided to run as an independent. — Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN, 4 May 2021 An entrepreneur made wealthy when General Motors acquired his company, Perot ran as an independent. — Roger Dooley, Forbes, 27 Apr. 2021 The American Accountability Foundation believes McReynolds is a Democrat, and her confirmation to the board as an independent could allow Democrats to fill a vacancy later with another Democrat, illegally stacking the board in their favor. — Susan Ferrechio, Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'independent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.