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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
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 This week, the Ferndale Inclusion Network — the city's independent diversity council —has invited the mayor and others to participate in a virtual Zoom discussion of the city's new Commitment to Antiracism.
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Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press, "Ferndale City Council seeks civilian board to oversee police in 'antiracism' plan," 13 July 2020 Guillen’s remains were found on June 30 by an independent contractor aiding in the investigation in the woods near the Leon River, about 26 miles east of Fort Hood, according to the Army.
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Fox News, "Former Fort Hood soldier whose skeletal remains were found to be buried without military honors, family claims," 13 July 2020 The police department hired an independent company to complete a study to determine the breakdown by race of Carmel’s drivers.
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Kaitlin Lange, The Indianapolis Star, "Carmel has a negative reputation when it comes to race relations. Here’s why.," 13 July 2020 Muslim Kashmiris generally support the rebels’ goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
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Washington Post, "Pro-India leader, 2 family members killed in Kashmir," 9 July 2020 Sunday's game was to be the completion of a three-game series to open the independent professional league’s season.
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Dave Kallmann, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A Milwaukee Milkmen baseball game postponed Sunday because of a positive COVID-19 test," 5 July 2020 The tax on its freedom that France forced Haiti to pay severely damaged the newly independent country’s ability to prosper.
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Marlene Daut, Quartz Africa, "How France extorted Haiti for one of the greatest heists in geopolitical history," 3 July 2020 The Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league, announced that the entire 2020 season had been canceled, which includes the Lake Erie Crushers.
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cleveland, "Lake Erie Crushers’ 2020 season canceled by Frontier League due to COVID-19," 24 June 2020 The Frontier League, the largest and longest-running independent league, has teams spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from the Ohio River up into Canada.
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Julia Fair, The Enquirer, "Florence Y'alls will play baseball this summer with reduced fan capacity due to COVID-19," 24 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun So, what does that mean for the Irish, an independent?
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Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, "Big Ten Conference confirms conference-only football schedule," 9 July 2020 Jacob Walker, 44, a political independent from Auburn, California, saw the approaching holiday as a moment for reflection.
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Susan Page, USA TODAY, "USA TODAY poll: The greatest country in the world? On the 4th of July, a moment of reckoning for the USA," 3 July 2020 As an independent, Wisniewski the hospital had no parent company to turn to for financial help.
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Robin Erb, Bridge Magazine And Kristen Shamus, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan hospitals still expect to lose millions after $850M in federal coronavirus funds," 1 July 2020 Notre Dame, an independent an ACC affiliation, annually plays a solid schedule.
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Nathan Baird, cleveland, "Ohio State football can extend King of the North reign through non-conference scheduling: Buckeye Take," 20 June 2020 Gallup’s party affiliation polls have shown for about a decade that more Americans identify as independents than as Democrats or Republicans.
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Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, "We’re Not Polarized Enough," 19 May 2020 Brandon Dillon, a former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, conceded that Mr. Amash was attractive to some Democratic-leaning independents.
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Jonathan Martin, New York Times, "Our 2020 Election Guide," 30 Apr. 2020 While Gonzales and Reyes are both fundamentally conservative candidates, Gonzales, like Hurd, shows a willingness to listen to opposing views and tends to frame his answers with enough nuance to be acceptable to independents and moderate Democrats.
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Gilbert Garcia, ExpressNews.com, "Garcia: District 23 GOP runoff waged on a virtual battlefield," 25 Apr. 2020 The Oklahoma Democratic Party opened its primaries to independents beginning with the 2016 election year.
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USA TODAY, "Skiing Santas, bird-friendly glass, insulin caravan: News from around our 50 states," 11 Dec. 2019
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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Time Traveler for independent
The first known use of independent was in 1611
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