# independent

/ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/ (US) · /ˌɪndɪpˈɛndənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/independent
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. self-reliant

adjective · CEFR A2

not needing help or money from other people.

For teachers: capable of functioning or acting without external control or financial support.

- Now that she has a good job, she is financially independent.
- The young adult sought to become independent of his family's influence by moving to a different city and securing his own housing.

### 2. sovereign

adjective · CEFR B1

a country that is free and not ruled by another country.

For teachers: possessing the status of a self-governing nation; not subject to the authority of another state.

- The nation became independent in 1960 after years of colonial rule.
- The treaty recognized the territory as a fully independent state with the power to manage its own foreign policy and defense.

### 3. not influenced

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

not influenced by the opinions or actions of others.

For teachers: not subject to bias, external influence, or the control of a larger organization.

- The committee will conduct an independent investigation into the accident.
- The researchers insisted on an independent peer review to ensure that the findings were not skewed by the funding agency's interests.

### 4. politics

noun · CEFR B2

a person who does not belong to a specific political party.

For teachers: a candidate or voter who is not affiliated with any established political party.

- He decided to run as an independent because he disagreed with both major parties.
- In a closely contested election, the support of undecided independents often determines the final outcome in swing districts.

### 5. business/media

noun · CEFR B2

a small company that is not owned by a large corporation.

For teachers: a small, privately owned business or artistic entity that operates outside the control of major conglomerates.

- The town has many independents, like the local bookstore and the family-run bakery.
- The rise of digital distribution has allowed musical independents to reach a global audience without signing to a major record label.

## Examples

- She decided to run for office as an independent.
- The local election was won by an independent who promised to focus on community issues rather than party politics.
- While the major parties dominated the debate, several independents managed to secure enough votes to influence the final legislative decision on the environmental bill.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.