# independent

Pronunciation: say "in-di-PEN-duhnt" /ˌɪn.dɪˈpɛn.dənt/

## Adjective

1. Not controlled by, depending on or affected by something else; free to act or exist on its own.
   - Simple: Not controlled by or needing other people or things, and free to act 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._
2. 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.
   - Simple: Of a business, school or film: not owned, paid for or run by a big company, a chain or the government.
   - _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._
3. Free from bias or outside influence; guided by one's own judgment.
   - Simple: Free from the control of others, so able to make fair choices.
   - _The newspaper prides itself on independent reporting that no advertiser can shape._
   - _An independent review board examined the complaints against the department._
5. Having no political party membership or affiliation.
   - Simple: Not belonging to any political party.
   - _She ran as an independent candidate and won the district outright._
   - _Several independent lawmakers refused to join either caucus._
8. Large enough to afford a comfortable standard of living without reliance on employment or others.
   - Simple: Big enough to let someone live in comfort without needing a job.
   - _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._

## Noun

4. A voter who does not identify with any political party, or a politician who holds or seeks office without party affiliation.
   - Simple: A voter or politician who does not belong to or identify with a political party.
   - _As an independent, she felt free to support good ideas from both sides._
   - _Many independents decided the outcome of the close election._
6. A small business under private ownership, not part of a larger chain.
   - Simple: A small business owned by a private person, not part of a big chain.
   - _She prefers to shop at a local independent rather than a national chain._
   - _Several independents downtown closed during the recession._
7. A team that competes without membership in any league or athletic conference.
   - Simple: A sports team that does not belong to 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._

## Origin

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

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/independent (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).