DictionaryAI

independent

in-di-PEN-duhnt/ˌɪn.dɪˈpɛn.dənt/

Noun pluralindependents

8 meanings of independent

Practice

  1. 1
    self-reliantadjective
    Not controlled by, depending on or affected by something else; free to act or exist on its own.

    Her decision was completely independent of her parents' wishes.

    The two systems are independent, so a failure in one won't affect the other.

    UsageTakes of, though its opposite takes on: independent of her parents, dependent on them.

  2. 2
    privately ownedadjective
    Of a business or record label, not owned or controlled by a larger company or chain; of a film, produced outside the major studio system; of a school, privately run outside the state system.

    The band put out its first three albums on an independent label before signing with a major.

    Independent coffee shops have struggled to compete since the chain opened two stores nearby.

    UsageIn music, film and games often shortened to indie: an indie label, an indie film.

    Similarindie, private

    Oppositecorporate

    Note

    In Britain an independent school is a fee-paying private school that stands outside the state system. The usual contrast is with the big player in each field, as when a band leaves its independent label for a major, or a corner bookshop holds out against a chain.

  3. 3
    adjective
    Free from bias or outside influence; guided by one's own judgment.

    The newspaper prides itself on independent reporting that no advertiser can shape.

    An independent review board examined the complaints against the department.

    Similarimpartial, unbiased, objective, neutral, nonpartisan

    Oppositebiased, partial, partisan

  4. 4
    non-party candidatenouncountable
    A voter who does not identify with any political party, or a politician who holds or seeks office without party affiliation.

    As an independent, she felt free to support good ideas from both sides.

    Many independents decided the outcome of the close election.

    UsageOften as an independent: people run, vote or sit as an independent. The plural independents often means voters.

  5. 5
    adjective
    Having no political party membership or affiliation.

    She ran as an independent candidate and won the district outright.

    Several independent lawmakers refused to join either caucus.

    Similarunaffiliated, nonpartisan

    Oppositepartisan, affiliated

    Note

    Party politics gives this sense its most common partners: an independent candidate stands for office without representing a political party, and independent voters are a group that campaigns court in the final weeks. Joe Biden courted independent voters in 2020. When the adjective drops its noun, it becomes the noun for such a voter, as in polls of how independents feel about a bill.

Less common meanings

  1. 6
    nouncountable
    A small business under private ownership, not part of a larger chain.

    She prefers to shop at a local independent rather than a national chain.

    Several independents downtown closed during the recession.

    Oppositechain

  2. 7
    nouncountable
    A team that competes without membership in any league or athletic conference.

    As an independent, the college scheduled games against teams from many conferences.

    A few independents still play major programs without joining a conference.

    Note

    Sports uses the same idea as the political noun: the point is the absence of membership. A team with no league or conference does not inherit a fixed slate of conference games. Instead it builds its schedule opponent by opponent and can meet teams from many conferences in one season.

    Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

    • A team without conference membership has no obligatory conference schedule. en.wikipedia.org
    • Independent teams build schedules by arranging individual opponents. uconnhuskies.com
    • An independent team can face teams from several conferences during one season. uconnhuskies.com
  3. 8
    enough to liveadjective
    Large enough to afford a comfortable standard of living without reliance on employment or others.

    She had an independent income and never worried about money.

    A woman of independent means, she spent her twenties traveling and painting instead of working in an office.

    UsageUsed before words for wealth, not people: independent means, an independent income, a woman of independent means.

    Note

    Here the word describes wealth rather than a person. An independent property is one whose income frees its owner from working for a living. The holding is independent so that its owner can be independent in the general sense.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of independent apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Formed from in- ("not") and dependent; compare French "indépendant."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

  • English independent comes from Middle English independent, equivalent to in- + dependent; French indépendant is a comparison. en.wiktionary.org