independent

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌɪn.dɪˈpɛn.dənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #4247

Meanings

1

adj
Free from outside control; not ruled by another country or authority.

The colony became an independent nation in 1960.
2

adj
Able to do things or look after yourself without help from others.

She has a strong, independent mind.
3

adj
Not belonging to or supported by any political party.

The independent candidate won a surprising number of votes.
4

noun
A politician or voter who is not part of any political party.

Most independents opposed the new bill.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

autonomouscrossbencherfreeself-standingsubstantive

Opposites

contingent dependent

Word family

Forms independents

Derived forms case-independentindependency independentismindependentistindependentizationindependentizeindependentlylanguage-independentnonindependentplatform-independentpseudoindependentquasi-independent

Related forms depend dependence dependently independence pendant pending

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Simplified etymology

Independent entered English in the early 17th century as the opposite of dependent. It belongs to the word family derived from Latin pendere, with depend carrying the underlying meaning “hang down.”

Etymology

From French indépendant, equivalent to in- + dependent.

indépendant French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# independent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪn.dɪˈpɛn.dənt/
**Frequency rank:** 4247

## Meanings
1. Free from outside control; not ruled by another country or authority.
2. Able to do things or look after yourself without help from others.
3. Not belonging to or supported by any political party.
4. A politician or voter who is not part of any political party.

## Examples
- The colony became an independent nation in 1960.
- She has a strong, independent mind.
- The independent candidate won a surprising number of votes.
- Most independents opposed the new bill.

## Synonyms
- autonomous
- crossbencher
- free
- self-standing
- substantive

## Antonyms
- contingent
- dependent

## Derived Forms
- case-independent
- independency
- independentism
- independentist
- independentization
- independentize
- independently
- language-independent
- nonindependent
- platform-independent
- pseudoindependent
- quasi-independent

## Related Forms
- depend
- dependence
- dependently
- independence
- pendant
- pending

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: indépendant

## Etymology
From French indépendant, equivalent to in- + dependent.

## AI Etymology
Independent comes from French indépendant, equivalent to in- + dependent. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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