INDEPENDENT

independent

(adjective) free from external control and constraint; “an independent mind”; “a series of independent judgments”; “fiercely independent individualism”

independent, main

(adjective) (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”

independent

(adjective) not controlled by a party or interest group

autonomous, independent, self-governing, sovereign

(adjective) (of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces; “an autonomous judiciary”; “a sovereign state”

freelancer, freelance, free-lance, free lance, independent, self-employed person

(noun) a writer or artist who sells services to different employers without a long-term contract with any of them

mugwump, independent, fencesitter

(noun) a neutral or uncommitted person (especially in politics)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology

Adjective

independent (comparative more independent, superlative most independent)

Not dependent; not contingent or depending on something else; free.

(politics) Not affiliated with any political party.

Providing a comfortable livelihood.

Not subject to bias or influence; self-directing.

Separate from; exclusive; irrespective.

• R. P. Ward

Synonyms

• autonomous

• free

• selfstanding

Antonyms

• contingent

• dependent

Hyponyms

• language-independent

• order-independent

• redshift-independent

• system-dependent

Noun

independent (plural independents)

A candidate or voter not affiliated with any political party, a freethinker, free of a party platform.

A neutral or uncommitted person.

(sports) A team not affiliated with any league or conference.

Source: Wiktionary

---

In`de*pend"ent, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + dependent: cf. F. indépendant.]

1. Not dependent; free; not subject to control by others; not relying on others; not subordinate; as, few men are wholly independent. A dry, but independent crust. Cowper.

2. Affording a comfortable livelihood; as, an independent property.

3. Not subject to bias or influence; not obsequious; self-directing; as, a man of an independent mind.

4. Expressing or indicating the feeling of independence; free; easy; bold; unconstrained; as, an independent air or manner.

5. Separate from; exclusive; irrespective. 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. R. P. Ward.

6. (Eccl.)

Definition: Belonging or pertaining to, or holding to the doctrines or methods of, the Independents.

7. (Math.)

Definition: Not dependent upon another quantity in respect to value or rate of variation; -- said of quantities or functions.

8. (U. S. Politics)

Definition: Not bound by party; exercising a free choice in voting with either or any party. Independent company (Mil.), one not incorporated in any regiment.

– Independent seconds watch, a stop watch having a second hand driven by a separate set of wheels, springs, etc., for timing to a fraction of a second.

– Independent variable. (Math.) See Dependent variable, under Dependent.

Syn.

– Free; uncontrolled; separate; uncoerced; self-reliant; bold; unconstrained; unrestricted.

In`de*pend"ent, n.

1. (Eccl.)

Definition: One who believes that an organized Christian church is complete in itself, competent to self-government, and independent of all ecclesiastical authority.

Note: In England the name is often applied (commonly in the pl.) to the Congregationalists.

2. (Politics)

Definition: One who does not acknowledge an obligation to support a party's candidate under all circumstances; one who exercises liberty in voting.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---