He prefers independent research rather than corporate studies.
The child learned to think independent after moving to a new school.
She ran as an independent and won the seat.
She lives independent of her parents.
The independent café stayed open during the strike.
Similar words
unaffiliated
free agent
self-governing
nonpartisan
independent politician
unaffiliated
centrist
self-reliant
free
independent voter
Meanings
Not controlled by others
adjective
everyday
neutral
Not influenced or controlled by other people, events, or things.
Examples
She lives independent of her parents.
The independent café stayed open during the strike.
He prefers independent research rather than corporate studies.
Their independent decision surprised everyone.
The child learned to think independent after moving to a new school.
Similar words
self-reliant
autonomous
self-sufficient
free
unaffiliated
self-governing
A person who is not aligned with any political party
noun
politics
neutral
A person who does not belong to or support any political party, often used for a political independent.
Examples
An independent announced his candidacy yesterday.
The council includes several independents who vote on each issue.
She ran as an independent and won the seat.
During the debate, the independent asked a tough question.
Many voters trust independents to represent unbiased views.
Similar words
nonpartisan
unaffiliated
independent politician
independent voter
centrist
free agent
Etymology
FAQ
What does independent mean?
It means not relying on others for support or control; not influenced or controlled by other people, events, or things.
What does independent mean as an adjective?
As an adjective it describes someone or something that is self-reliant, autonomous, free, or unaffiliated.
What does independent mean as a noun?
As a noun it refers to a person who does not belong to any political party, a nonpartisan individual.
What are synonyms for independent?
Synonyms include self-reliant, autonomous, self-sufficient, free, unaffiliated, self-governing, nonpartisan, centrist, and free agent.
What is the opposite of independent?
The opposite is dependent.
Comments & contributions
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Sunny Terrapin
Jul 15
independiente is so close in Spanish that I overuse independent in English sometimes
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Tawny Sandpiper
Jul 13
spelled it independant on my CV once. pain
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Crimson Reindeer
Jul 9
Stats students: independent observations and an independent variable are different things. If the same patient is measured 10 times, those rows are probably not independent observations.
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Chipper Horse
Jul 6
indie came from independent, but now it can be more of a genre label than a business fact. indie pop does not mean someone checked the cap table lol
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Violet Fox
Jul 4
independent expenditure in American elections does NOT mean neutral spending. It can be a very obvious attack ad, it just has to be not coordinated with the campaign or party.
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Marble Seal
Jul 1
In US work/tax talk, independent contractor is not just fancy for freelancer. The IRS cares about who controls how the work is done, expenses, tools, benefits, the whole relationship.
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Polar Hawk
Jun 23
UK school vocab is a trap here. An independent school is basically a fee-paying private school, and then public school can also mean private school in Britain, not the US meaning.
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Cloudy Sandpiper
Jun 23
I would write developed independently of Google, not independently from Google. from makes me expect a breakaway story, like a country splitting off or a studio leaving a parent company