stand-alone

adjective

ˈstand-ə-ˈlōn 

variants or standalone

: complete in itself : self-contained sense 1a

All three drugs had FDA's blessing as stand-alone treatments for obesity, but the agency had never approved the combination.

—Kathleen Fackelmann

: such as

a

: intended, designed, or able to be used or to function alone or separately : not connected to or requiring connection to something else in order to be used or to function

Run on kerosene or diesel, stand-alone cabin heaters operate without electricity …

—Skip Novak

especially : operating or capable of operating independently of other software or hardware

Amazon, for example, wants to offer the app as a channel in its Prime Video suite, rather than a standalone app next to Prime. Doing so gives Amazon access to data such as watching habits and preferences.

—Kim Khan

The market has seen a number of more capable VR headsets hit shelves, the most recent being the standalone Oculus Quest, which doesn't require a PC like the Oculus Rift.

—Brittany A. Roston

b

: not being part of a larger work or series

a stand-alone film/novel

Many of these individual chapters read like stand-alone essays—nuanced, witty, and carefully polished accounts …

—John Brewer

Though the printed library reference works still exist as standalone products, the integrated and expanded versions help students understand how information is related and how to do research …

—James Lichtenberg

c

: belonging to but operating independently of a larger organization

Nike built the Jordan Brand into a massive standalone business with $3.1 billion in wholesale revenue …

—Kurt Badenhausen

d

: existing as a separate structure : not connected to or contained within another structure

The gallery is in a standalone building on the property on Portland Street.

—KiMi Robinson

According to the Chapter 11 filing, the closures will affect malls and standalone stores across the country.

—Áine Cain

stand-alone noun

or standalone

plural stand-alones or standalones

But now it is all paying off. His European growth is remarkable, both in department stores and standalones.

—Jim Cramer

This book is a companion to last year's Five Midnights, though it can be read as a standalone.

—Dahlia Adler

The system operates … as a standalone or within any graphics application, and supports most popular file formats.

—Industry Week

Examples of stand-alone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bathroom had a massive stand-alone tub and a rainfall shower with soaps made by local artisans that smelled woodsy and decadent. —Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024

Blue Mountain State lasted three seasons, and Ritchson’s Thad Castle inspired 2016’s wild stand-alone film, The Rise of Thadland, thanks to fans who launched a Kickstarter campaign that raised nearly $2 million. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024

Restaurants operating inside a grocery establishment are exempt, as are restaurants producing and selling bread as a stand-alone menu item. —Terry Chea, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2024

The fifth episode—a pretty perfect half hour that could be a stand-alone short—is emblematic of Carmichael’s striving for greater honesty and his willingness to ask tough questions about himself. —Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024

In what could be one of the best deals in the family’s history, Condé Nast acquired Reddit for $10 million in 2006, ultimately opting to spin it out later as its own stand-alone company. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024

The City Council voted 3-0 in January to allow stand-alone cannabis manufacturing operations, but banned the use of volatile substances, such as the butane used in cannabis vape products. —Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024

The new chain is a stand-alone outpost where customers can pick up both familiar McDonald's items and new menu offerings including add-on items like popping boba, flavor syrups, energy and vitamin C shots. —Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024

Seven stand-alone bungalows with private patios and spectacular views of Bora Bora are nearby and also available to book. —Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above