independent
Other forms: independents
If your brother says you broke his guitar and you say you weren't anywhere near it, your parents may ask your sister for an independent opinion, as she has no reason to lie. An independent person is free from the control or influence of other people.
The root word, depend, originally meant "to hang down." We use the word hang in a similar way. If the decision to build a new stadium hangs on funding, the decision won't be made till the money comes in. To be independent means that you don't depend on your parents to pay your bills. Or, for a three year old, it may mean going to the bathroom "all by yourself." It's all relative.
Definitions of independent
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free from external control and constraint“an independent mind”“a series of independent judgments”“fiercely independent individualism”
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Synonyms:
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autarkic, autarkical
of countries; not relying on imports
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autonomous, self-directed, self-reliant
(of persons) free from external control and constraint in e.g. action and judgment
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autonomous
existing as an independent entity
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breakaway, fissiparous, separatist
having separated or advocating separation from another entity or policy or attitude
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commutative
(of a binary operation) independent of order; as in e.g. "a x b = b x a"
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free-living, nonparasitic, nonsymbiotic
not parasitic on another organism
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indie
(of pop groups) not affiliated with a major recording company
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case-by-case, individual, item-by-item
separate and distinct from others of the same kind
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self-sufficient, self-sufficing, self-sustaining
able to provide for your own needs without help from others
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self-supporting
financially independent
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single-handed
without help from others
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strong-minded
marked by vigorous independence of thought and judgment
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unaffiliated
not affiliated
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unconditional
not contingent; not determined or influenced by someone or something else
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free
able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint
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separate
independent; not united or joint
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Antonyms:
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dependent
relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed
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babelike
like a baby especially in dependence
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helpless
unable to manage independently
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interdependent, mutualist, mutually beneficial
mutually dependent
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myrmecophilous
living symbiotically with ants
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bloodsucking, leechlike, parasitic, parasitical
of plants or persons; having the nature or habits of a parasite or leech; living off another
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reliant
relying on another for support
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symbiotic
used of organisms (especially of different species) living together but not necessarily in a relation beneficial to each
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underage
dependent by virtue of youth
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unfree
hampered and not free; not able to act at will
- show more antonyms...
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autarkic, autarkical
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(of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces
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synonyms:
autonomous, self-governing, sovereign
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free
able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint
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free
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not controlled by a party or interest group
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Synonyms:
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nonpartisan, nonpartizan
free from party affiliation or bias
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nonpartisan, nonpartizan
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a neutral or uncommitted person (especially in politics)
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synonyms:
fencesitter, mugwump
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type of:
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individualist
a person who pursues independent thought or action
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individualist
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a writer or artist who sells services to different employers without a long-term contract with any of them
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synonyms:
free lance, free-lance, freelance, freelancer, self-employed person
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type of:
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worker
a person who works at a specific occupation
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worker
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(of a clause) capable of standing syntactically alone as a complete sentence“the main (or independent) clause in a complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb”
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synonyms:
main
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Antonyms:
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dependent, subordinate
(of a clause) unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence
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dependent, subordinate
Pronunciation
US
/ˈɪndəˌpɛndənt/
UK
/ɪndɪˈpɛndənt/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘independent'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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