Words / B1

ind-i-PEND-uh-nt/ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/

Independent means not needing help, or not controlled by others: an independent learner, an independent country, financially independent. Dependent on is the opposite; independent of + noun is also used. Independence is the noun and independently the adverb. Freelance is about work contracts, not the same as independent thinking.

Meaning

Not needing help from other people, or not controlled by them.

Examples

• “She is an independent learner.”
• “The newspaper is independent of the government.”
• “She wants to be more independent at university.”

Good to know

independent of / from. Opposite: dependent on. Noun: independence. Adverb: independently.

Near in meaning

self-reliant

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