Independent Meaning
/ˌɪn.dɪˈpɛn.dənt/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjNot dependent; not contingent or depending on something else; free.
adjNot affiliated with any political party.
Sentence Examples
I want to be more independent.
Certainly he is independent of him.
An independent valuer will calculate the value of your property.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
She is an ____ woman who makes her own decisions without any help.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She is a very ____ person who prefers to solve all of her problems without asking for help.
Word Origin & History
From French indépendant, equivalent to in- + dependent.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Niinisto pointed out that he had already told Putin at their first meeting in 2012 that “each independent nation would maximize its own security.”
“That is still the case. By joining NATO, Finland will strengthen its own security and assume its responsibilities. It is not something away from anybody,” Niinisto said."
— 2022 May 14, Jari Tanner, “Putin warns Finland NATO membership would harm relations”, in AP News, archived from the original on 14 May 2022:
"At one point in the debate, the moderator asked a tough question that had the candidates stumped.
Moderator: "This question is for both of the candidates. Those ever-important independent voters who haven’t decided who to vote for would like to know what the real differences between you two are."
Gore: "I think the real difference between Governor Bush and I is that he is in fact a Republican, and I am currently a Democrat."
Moderator: "That doesn’t really answer the question, I am talking about issues."
Bush: "No, he is right. I am a Republican, and he is a Democrat.""
— 2000 October 3, Tim Paluch, “Gore vs. Bush: That's Debatable”, in Iowa State Daily:
"Joe Biden is making a clear attempt to appeal to disaffected Republicans and independent voters in the final weeks of the election, promising he’d be a president that would work hard not just for those who support him, but also for those who do not."
— 2020 October 10, Sarah Mucha, “‘A moment to put country above party’: Biden makes appeal to disaffected Republican and independent voters”, in CNN, archived from the original on 11 Jan 2021:
"That obligation in general, under which we conceive ourselves bound to obey a law, independent of those resources which the law provides for its own enforcement."
— 1795, Robert Plumer Ward, An Enquiry into the Foundation and History of the Law of Nations in Europe from the Time of the Greeks and Romans to the Age of Grotius:
"“Independents opposed the bill by around a 3-to-1 margin … The KFF and Fox News polls – the ones with the fewest undecideds – showed 7 in 10 independents opposed it,” Blake wrote."
— 2025 June 27, Zachary B. Wolf, “Trump is losing support among independent voters. Who are they?”, in CNN:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She is an ____ woman who makes her own decisions without any help.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She is a very ____ person who prefers to solve all of her problems without asking for help.