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
nounDefinition 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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Synonyms & Antonyms for independent
Synonyms: Adjective
- self-dependent,
- self-reliant,
- self-subsistent,
- self-subsisting,
- self-sufficient,
- self-supported,
- self-supporting,
- self-sustained,
- self-sustaining
Antonyms: Adjective
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Lanoue’s opponents are Democrat Mark DePonte and independent candidate Dan Reale, in the district that includes Griswold, Lisbon, Plainfield, Sterling and Voluntown.
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Jon Lender, courant.com, "Jon Lender: State Rep. Brian Lanoue and his mother are ordered to pay $30K in fines for health, safety violations at trailer park," 9 Oct. 2020 In 1980, before the commission’s creation, President Carter refused to participate in the first debate, which featured Republican challenger Ronald Reagan and independent candidate John Anderson.
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Ken Thomas, WSJ, "Debate Over Debates Draws Attention to Nonpartisan Commission," 8 Oct. 2020 The first, Lisa Savage, is the independent Green candidate in Maine.
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Bill Mckibben, The New Yorker, "What Have We Learned in Thirty Years of Covering Climate Change?," 7 Oct. 2020 Their campaign has noted it is endorsed by several prominent members of the faith, including former independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin and former GOP Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona.
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Lee Davidson, The Salt Lake Tribune, "Vice President Mike Pence heads to Utah, says debate stakes ‘have never been higher’," 5 Oct. 2020 And in 1980, President Jimmy Carter refused to debate challenger Ronald Reagan if the independent candidate, Illinois Congressman John B. Anderson, participated.
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refinery29.com, "Does There Really Have To Be Another Presidential Debate?," 30 Sep. 2020 President Jimmy Carter refused to participate in any debate that included independent candidate John Anderson, wanting a one-on-one debate with Republican nominee Ronald Reagan.
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USA Today, "2020: Presidential debate schedule," 29 Sep. 2020 Carter opted out of the first one, which included an independent candidate)?
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Rob Crilly, Washington Examiner, "Rattle Biden and avoid the incumbent slump: Four ways Trump wins the first debate," 29 Sep. 2020 Scott, who emerged the victor among a crowded field of Democrats in the June primary, faces independent candidate Bob Wallace and Republican nominee Shannon Wright on the Nov. 3 ballot.
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Emily Opilo, baltimoresun.com, "Democratic Baltimore mayoral nominee Brandon Scott to show first fall election TV ad during Ravens game," 28 Sep. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Those four members then choose an independent to serve as the commission’s chair.
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Andrew Oxford, The Arizona Republic, "Nominations for redistricting panel lack diversity, Democrats allege," 11 Oct. 2020 Gross is running as an independent for U.S. Senate against Sen. Dan Sullivan, but has the Democratic nomination.
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Aubrey Wieber, Anchorage Daily News, "Group of Republican lawmakers resurfaces allegations against Al Gross campaign manager," 9 Oct. 2020 The debate didn’t change the mind of Peralte Roseme, a 35-year-old independent in West Palm Beach, Fla, who voted for President Obama and now plans to vote for Mr. Trump.
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Nate Cohn, New York Times, "Poll Finds Voters in Two Crucial States Repelled by Trump’s Debate Behavior," 3 Oct. 2020 Ironically, the following year, the same team—now being run on a shoestring as an independent using Mercedes engines—won the WDC and WCC as Brawn GP, which the year after became Mercedes-AMG F1, which has utterly dominated F1 in the hybrid era.
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Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "Honda shocks F1, says it will quit the sport after 2021," 2 Oct. 2020 Polls show a competitive Senate race between GOP incumbent Dan Sullivan and Al Gross, an orthopedic surgeon who’s running as an independent with Democratic Party backing.
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Gabriel T. Rubin, WSJ, "Bipartisan Former Senate Leaders, Cabinet Secretaries Aim to Shore Up Trust in Vote," 2 Oct. 2020 Army, an independent, had to replace nine of the 12 games on its schedule after losing opponents whose conferences postponed the season.
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Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Aztecs’ Hoke doesn’t begrudge Air Force playing Army, Navy," 3 Sep. 2020 There are two in-person debates scheduled this month between Galvin, an independent, and U.S. Don Young, her campaign said.
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Mark Thiessen, Anchorage Daily News, "Challenger Alyse Galvin claims US Rep. Young is ducking debates," 1 Oct. 2020 Moreover, the rear suspension, which is a semi-trailing-arm independent, allows no wheel patter on washboard surfaces.
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Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, "Tested: 1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit Rejuvenates Traditional Luxury," 23 Sep. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for independent
independent
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of independent
(Entry 1 of 2)
: not controlled or ruled by another country
: not controlled by other people
: not requiring or relying on other people for help or support
independent
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of independent (Entry 2 of 2)
: someone or something that is not connected to others of the same kind
politics : a person who does not belong to a political party
See the full definition for independent in the English Language Learners Dictionary
independent
adjectivein·de·pen·dent | \ ˌin-də-ˈpen-dənt \
\Kids Definition of independent
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : not under the control or rule of another
an independent country
2 : not connected with something else
an independent bookstore
3 : not depending on anyone else for money to live on
4 : thinking freely : not looking to others for guidance
an independent thinker
independent
nounKids Definition of independent (Entry 2 of 2)
: an independent person
independent
adjectivein·de·pen·dent
Legal Definition of independent
1 : not dependent on others (as parents) for livelihood especially : not a dependent declared she was independent on her financial aid form
2a : not affiliated with another usually larger unit
an independent adjuster
b : not contingent on something else
an independent promise
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Comments on independent
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Time Traveler for independent
The first known use of independent was in 1611
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