'Independent' definitions:

Definition of 'independent'

From: WordNet
adjective
Free from external control and constraint; "an independent mind"; "a series of independent judgments"; "fiercely independent individualism" [ant: dependent]
adjective
(of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces; "an autonomous judiciary"; "a sovereign state" [syn: autonomous, independent, self-governing, sovereign]
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" [syn: independent, main(a)] [ant: dependent, subordinate]
adjective
Not controlled by a party or interest group
noun
A neutral or uncommitted person (especially in politics) [syn: mugwump, independent, fencesitter]
noun
A writer or artist who sells services to different employers without a long-term contract with any of them [syn: freelancer, freelance, free-lance, free lance, independent, self-employed person]

Definition of 'Independent'

From: GCIDE
  • Independent \In`de*pend"ent\, a. [Pref. in- not + dependent: cf. F. ind['e]pendant.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. Not dependent; free; not subject to control by others; not relying on others; not subordinate; as, few men are wholly independent. [1913 Webster]
  • A dry, but independent crust. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Affording a comfortable livelihood; as, an independent property. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Not subject to bias or influence; not obsequious; self-directing; as, a man of an independent mind. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Expressing or indicating the feeling of independence; free; easy; bold; unconstrained; as, an independent air or manner. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Separate from; exclusive; irrespective. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Eccl.) Belonging or pertaining to, or holding to the doctrines or methods of, the Independents. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. (Math.) Not dependent upon another quantity in respect to value or rate of variation; -- said of quantities or functions. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. (U. S. Politics) Not bound by party; exercising a free choice in voting with either or any party. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Independent'

From: GCIDE
  • Independent \In`de*pend"ent\, n.
  • 1. (Eccl.) One who believes that an organized Christian church is complete in itself, competent to self-government, and independent of all ecclesiastical authority. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: In England the name is often applied (commonly in the pl.) to the Congregationalists. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Politics) One who does not acknowledge an obligation to support a party's candidate under all circumstances; one who exercises liberty in voting. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'independent'

From: GCIDE
  • nonpartisan \nonpartisan\ adj.
  • 1. free from party affiliation or bias. Opposite of partisan. [Narrower terms: {bipartisan, bipartizan, two-party, two-way}; {independent ] [Narrower terms: {nonparty, non-party ]
  • Syn: nonpartizan. [WordNet 1.5]
  • 2. not affiliated with any one party; as, a nonpartisan commission to study crime. [WordNet 1.5]

Synonyms of 'independent'

From: Moby Thesaurus