Meaning of independent in English:

1Free from outside control; not subject to another's authority.

1. 1.1(of a country) self-governing.
   ‘India became independent in 1947’
   More example sentences

   • ‘The six-country tour will also underpin the fact that the island is a sovereign, independent country, he said.’
   • ‘Bangladesh later separated from Pakistan and East Timor which at the time was a Portuguese colony but is now an independent country.’
   • ‘If New Zealand is to develop as a fully independent country we must give all our people equal access to justice, and not just a privileged few.’
   • ‘He promised to continue ignoring the fact that Cuba is an independent country, not a US colony.’
   • ‘Australia doesn't even need to be a republic to be a proud, confident and independent country.’
   • ‘Life's getting harder in this so-called independent country, let alone for people in the low-income bracket like me.’
   • ‘Please let's change and be people with brave hearts and forget all about violence against any particular sex in this independent country.’
   • ‘I don't think we are ready to govern an independent country.’
   • ‘Once the Soviet Union broke apart, Kazakhstan became an independent country.’
   • ‘In 1948 the island, then an independent country, voted in a referendum to become the 10th province of Canada.’
   • ‘He's promoted and encouraged the idea of distinct Taiwanese identity and said his country is already independent.’
   • ‘Taiwan is clearly an independent country with its own sovereignty.’
   • ‘Now it is all different, of course, and we are an independent country.’
   • ‘In 1962, Jamaica became an independent country after 300 years of British rule.’
   • ‘The statue was erected in 1962 to welcome foreign visitors to the then young independent country.’
   • ‘Many of the states were too small or awkwardly located to survive as independent countries.’
   • ‘Kazakhstan is now an independent country, but for decades it was part of the Soviet Union.’
   • ‘How can you be proud of being an independent country if the government is unable to improve its citizens' welfare?’
   • ‘The British government officially recognised Madagascar as an independent country in 1820.’
   • ‘His concept can be used in meeting just demands of a people in their own independent country if the rulers fail in their duty.’
   Synonyms

   self-governing, self-legislating, self-determining, sovereign, autonomous, autonomic, autarkic, free, non-aligned

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2. 1.2Not belonging to or supported by a political party.
   ‘the independent candidate’
   More example sentences

   • ‘When the matter went to Parliament, all political parties supported an independent Complaints Commission.’
   • ‘Support for independent candidates and smaller parties has also risen, but in the locals rather than the Euro elections.’
   • ‘The few independent candidates with political potential are quickly recruited by the parties.’
   • ‘Instead of listening to other political parties and to independent experts he consistently and viciously denigrated all opposition.’
   • ‘They strive to be independent from political parties and openly battle government-controlled organizations.’
   • ‘It demands the building of a new independent political party.’
   • ‘However, ward councillors can either join a new political party or become independent councillors.’
   • ‘Democracy presupposes independent political parties and an electorate willing to debate issues and vote accordingly.’
   • ‘The great weakness of the American workers movement historically has been its inability to establish an independent political party.’
   • ‘Working people can defend their interests only through the establishment of their own independent political party.’
   • ‘The time has come for the American working class to begin the arduous task of constructing an independent political party.’
   • ‘Lenin did not invent the concept of the party or of the independent political organization of the working class.’
   • ‘Those two seats went to candidates from little-known independent parties.’
   • ‘The remaining 8 seats were clinched by splinter parties or independent candidates.’
   • ‘This campaign exposed the ballot access barriers that confront all third party and independent candidates.’
   • ‘Its founding in 1906 represented the first step by British workers towards their own independent political party.’
   • ‘There are also minor party and independent candidates in many ridings, who generally deserve far more consideration than they receive.’
   • ‘So now we have voter apathy across the board, adversely affecting both parties, and independent candidates fared worse.’
   • ‘Half of them prefer party nominees to independent candidates.’
   • ‘In time, this should improve the prospects of third parties and independent candidates.’
3. 1.3(of broadcasting, a school, etc.) not supported by public funds.
   ‘an independent girls' school’
   ‘independent television’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Academies are independent schools funded by public money.’
   • ‘The bill would have introduced a public benefit test for independent schools ensuring they prove they offer a benefit to the public and not just fee-payers.’
   • ‘The Department for Education and Skills said no formal approach had been made by the schools, but it was not government policy to fund independent schools.’
   • ‘Collaboration amongst educators across public, Catholic and independent schools is difficult to say the least.’
   • ‘So we will help parents and other groups establish a new generation of independent schools funded by the state.’
   • ‘This could also be the reason why few pupils go from public schools to independent schools.’
   • ‘A new Charity Act will require independent schools to show they are meeting a public benefit test.’
   • ‘There are also independent schools which are boarding or day, senior or junior, rural or urban, large or small.’
   • ‘The group also runs two independent schools and three private nurseries in Wakefield and Barnsley.’
   • ‘A cheeky calendar starring boys from a posh independent school has won a group of girl pupils a business award.’
   • ‘What is on the screen will depend on whether the Council teams up with public space broadcasts or independent programmers.’
   • ‘The overall pass rate this year for all schools, including both state and independent schools, was 69.6%.’
   • ‘If you had a quota, you might actually say we will only make offers to 20% of independent school applicants.’
   • ‘The selection procedure for independent schools is, for parents and children alike, a nerve-wracking experience.’
   • ‘Nothing surprising there; with a higher per capita budget, independent schools of course do better on that score.’
   • ‘He insisted independent schools from all faiths had a role to play in encouraging understanding of people from different backgrounds.’
   • ‘There are more than 70 independent schools in Scotland - just under a quarter of which are in and around Edinburgh.’
   • ‘The borough's independent schools joined in the celebrations.’
   • ‘One academic says the proposal will increase the gap between State and independent schools to an alarming degree.’
   • ‘Head teachers at other independent schools said above-inflation fee hikes were necessary to meet a number of rising costs.’
   Synonyms

   private, public, non-state-controlled, non-state-run, non-public, private-sector, private-enterprise, fee-paying, commercial

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4. 1.4historical Congregational.

2Not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence.

1. 2.1(of income or resources) making it unnecessary to earn one's living.
   ‘a woman of independent means’
   More example sentences

   • ‘From about the early 1880s he had independent income and so he devoted himself to the problem of flight.’

3Capable of thinking or acting for oneself.

1. 3.1Not influenced by others; impartial.
   ‘a thorough and independent investigation of the case’
   More example sentences

   • ‘He said the matter deserves an impartial, independent investigation.’
   • ‘The European Convention on Human Rights demands a fair trial before an independent and impartial tribunal.’
   • ‘Under such circumstances, how can one ensure a fair and independent investigation?’
   • ‘Again, the service is independent, impartial and confidential.’
   • ‘News and commentary have never been more interesting and diverse than they are today under the influence of independent media.’
   • ‘In consequence, the judge is able to act, and to be seen to act, as an impartial and independent adjudicator.’
   • ‘No one will take seriously a body that is not seen to be independent and impartial.’
   • ‘They falsely pretend to be impartial and independent, or patronisingly portray themselves to be the same as ordinary people.’
   • ‘International law requires that every criminal court be competent, independent and impartial.’
   • ‘The administration is conducting an internal review, but momentum for an independent investigation is growing.’
   • ‘And the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also conducting an independent investigation.’
   • ‘The sacking was for unspecified professional misconduct after an independent investigation into allegations that he had an affair with a patient.’
   • ‘That is a perfect example of the philosophy of the office of the independent counsel in this investigation.’
   • ‘An independent investigation in to the Trust's waiting figures is now taking place, at the request of the government.’
   • ‘There will be no such thing as a completely independent investigation.’
   • ‘This is the only way to ensure that the people of Taiwan receive fair, objective and independent perspectives.’
   • ‘The requirement that the tribunal should be independent and impartial is one that has long been recognised by English common law.’
   • ‘The ads should also be subject to independent oversight.’
   • ‘Providing minimal information which is not capable of independent verification should alert you that something may be wrong.’
   • ‘Bacon was capable of offering independent advice and increasingly hostile towards Mary, queen of Scots.’
   Synonyms

   impartial, unbiased, unprejudiced, neutral, disinterested, uninvolved, uncommitted, detached, dispassionate, objective, open-minded, equitable, non-partisan, even-handed, fair, fair-minded, just

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4Not connected with another or with each other; separate.

1. 4.1Not depending on something else for strength or effectiveness; free-standing.
   ‘an independent electric shower’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Unknown is whether speed and accuracy are really independent measures of strategy effectiveness in computational estimation.’
   • ‘If treatment effects are independent the relative risk with two or more treatments is the product of the relative risk on each treatment.’
   • ‘The multiplier of the hazard rate is the independent multiplicative effect of a variable on what a rate would have been otherwise.’
   • ‘Fortunately the shower is electric, and we have an independent gas fire.’
   Synonyms

   separate, discrete, different, distinct, free-standing, self-contained, complete

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2. 4.2Mathematics (of one of a set of axioms, equations, or quantities) incapable of being expressed in terms of, or derived or deduced from, the others.
   More example sentences

   • ‘We used a parameterization process to reduce these parameters to 36 independent ones.’
   • ‘However he also showed that linear sentence systems do have independent axiom systems.’
   • ‘Ideally, the inverse problem consists of N independent linear equations.’
   • ‘Some rate Severi's discovery of a base of algebraically independent curves on any surface as his most important contribution.’
   • ‘With a multiallelic locus, there are more independent equations than the parameters to be estimated.’

1An independent person or body.

1. 1.1An independent political candidate.
   ‘he stood unsuccessfully as an independent in 1992’
   More example sentences

   • ‘The ten presidential candidates, including independents, were listed in two columns.’
   • ‘At that time the ruling party captured 193 seats, though many of these candidates ran as independents.’
   • ‘In 1935, she retired from teaching to stand for Parliament as an independent.’
   • ‘He tried two or three times to get into Parliament as an independent.’
   • ‘Many of the independents are opposition candidates whose parties have been banned.’
   • ‘As well as the big three parties, other groups looking for your vote include the Greens, Socialist Alliance and various independents.’
   • ‘After a somewhat cursory examination, the Commission told the independents late in February that it was doing nothing.’
   • ‘The government of Nunavut will be a non-party system and members run as independents and will govern by consensus.’
   • ‘We need to prove to the moderates, independents and western libertarians that we are tough enough.’
   • ‘First, I have no idea why Steve thinks all three independents are with the government.’
   • ‘But so far no way has been found to make democracy and government work with independents.’
   • ‘He hasn't sat on the board for a few years but it is still stacked full of 5 cronies with not a single independent to be seen anywhere.’
   • ‘Labour Students and the organised independents who dominate the executive retreated from their original plan.’
   • ‘More than once, it has crossed my mind to stand for election to the council as an independent.’
   • ‘He was an independent at Highland council and was only inducted into the Labour party on the eve of devolution.’
   • ‘The extreme right wing British National Party has its first four representatives while there are three Greens and an independent on the new council.’
   • ‘So to win government, even with the support of the other five independents, the Coalition would need to win ten seats.’
   • ‘So I think where there are worthy alternatives in the minor parties and independents, people are having a very serious think.’
   • ‘After the recent election we again have four Greens and three progressive independents out of 10 councillors.’
   • ‘It very quickly grew, drawing in people from other left wing parties and many independents from the social movements and trade unions.’
2. 1.2historical A Congregationalist.
   More example sentences

   • ‘They were part of English nonconformity which included Independents and Quakers.’
   • ‘On another side were the Independents, who wanted to do away with the Anglican Church altogether.’
   • ‘The radicals wanted it all - these were the Independents and Oliver Cromwell was emerging as their leader.’
   • ‘Although D' Ewes has been called a Presbyterian, his position in this treatise is more in line with the Independents.’