Meaning & use

independent

adjective·Academic

Not controlled, influenced, or supported by another person, organization, or state; self-governing or self-reliant.

See it in a sentence

The small country finally became independent after decades of colonial rule.

She prides herself on being financially independent since she turned twenty-two.

A note on using this word

Independent can describe nations, organizations, or individuals, and often pairs with 'of' or 'from,' as in 'independent of outside funding.'

Words with a similar meaning

autonomousself-sufficientfree

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

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