26984 words

independent

20 definitions • 32 examples
1
not influenced or controlled in any way by other people, events, or things:

Examples:

independent enquiry An independent enquiry will determine whether the case should move forward.
independent organization The audit will be done by an independent organization.
independent of They all made the same comment, quite independent of each other (= without deciding together to do so).
2
An independent politician does not agree or vote with any particular political party.
3
An independent country is not governed or ruled by another country:

Examples:

independent from Belize became fully independent from Britain in 1981.
The 2014 referendum in Scotland focused on a simple "yes" or "no" question: Should Scotland be an independent country?
4
not taking help or money from other people:

Examples:

Grandma's very independent and does all her own shopping and cooking.
financially independent I've always been financially independent.
5
not supported by or part of a larger organization:

Examples:

As an independent filmmaker, the best advice I got was to take risks, because nobody will tell you what you can and can't do.
When you start working as an independent contractor, you give up your entitlement to a pension or any benefits.
6
An independent grammatical clause forms part of a sentence but can also form a separate sentence.
7
a politician who does not represent a political party:

Examples:

He left the Conservatives and stood as an independent.
8
a voter who does not belong to a political party:

Examples:

She is gaining support among independents who have no political preference or who lean Democratic.
9
a shop, small business, etc. that is not part of a large company:

Examples:

The band would rather sign to an independent than a major record label.
10
not influenced or controlled by other people but free to make your own decisions:

Examples:

an independent thinker
Congress called for the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate the president.
Now that Jean’s got a job, she’s financially independent (= she does not need money from other people).
11
If a country becomes independent, it is no longer governed or ruled by another country.
12
An independent contractor is a person who agrees to do a particular job for someone else for an agreed amount of money but who is not an employee:

Examples:

She used to be on staff, but now she’s an independent contractor.
13
a voter or politician who does not belong to a political party:

Examples:

She is gaining support among independents who have no political preference or who lean Democratic.
14
not influenced or controlled by the government or another organization:

Examples:

independent of sth/sb The commission must remain independent of political control.
completely/fully/totally independent The charity is completely independent of government.
The agency is an independent body which monitors standards in the industry.
an independent adviser/auditor/expert
independent report/study/research
15
not governed or ruled by another country:

Examples:

an independent nation/state/country
independent from sth/sb Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821.
16
not part of a larger group of companies:

Examples:

The association represents independent retailers.
an independent business/firm/store
The band signed with an independent label.
a leading independent producer of television programmes
17
privately financed and not receiving money from the government:

Examples:

pupils from state and independent schools
18
not taking help or money from other people:

Examples:

19
not involved in a situation so able to judge it fairly:

Examples:

It's important to seek independent advice.
20
a business that does not belong to a larger company or group:

Examples:

The industry ranges from large retailers to small independents.

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