In·de·pend·ent a.
 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. Belonging or pertaining to, or holding to the doctrines or methods of, the Independents.
 7. Math. Not dependent upon another quantity in respect to value or rate of variation; -- said of quantities or functions.
 8. U. S. Politics 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.