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Synonyms

independence

1 American  
[in-di-pen-duhns] / ˌɪn dɪˈpɛn dəns /

noun

  1. Also the state or quality of being independent.

  2. freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.

  3. Archaic. a competency.

Independence 2 American  
[in-di-pen-duhns] / ˌɪn dɪˈpɛn dəns /

noun

  1. a city in W Missouri: starting point of the Santa Fe and Oregon trails.

  2. a town in SE Kansas.

Independence 1 British  
/ ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns /

noun

  1. a city in W Missouri, near Kansas City: starting point for the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails (1831–44). Pop: 112 079 (2003 est)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
independence 2 British  
/ ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns /

noun

  1. Also called: independency.  the state or quality of being independent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Independence Cultural  

  1. City in western Missouri.

Related Words

See freedom.

Discover More

Beginning of the Santa Fe Trail, used by settlers moving west.

Other Word Forms

  • interindependence noun
  • postindependence adjective
  • preindependence noun
  • superindependence noun

Etymology

Origin of independence

First recorded in 1630–40; independ(ent) + -ence

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While supporters argue that restarting drilling would strengthen security and energy independence, experts interviewed by AFP emphasised major constraints for both oil and gas.

From Barron's

India's 16th census - the eighth since independence in 1947 - will also include caste data and is seen as crucial for policy, welfare delivery and political representation in the world's most populous country.

From BBC

But if Lebanon wants independence, the country will have to seize it.

From The Wall Street Journal

On the question of Fed independence, Powell was also direct.

From Barron's

It may also be due to “lower foreign demand or concerns about Fed independence, including the possibility that the Fed could in the future raise the inflation target, leading to greater inflation variability,” Slok said.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.