independence

¹ American

[in-di-pen-duhns] / ˌɪn dɪˈpɛn dəns /

noun

Also the state or quality of being independent.
freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.
Archaic. a competency.

Independence ² American

[in-di-pen-duhns] / ˌɪn dɪˈpɛn dəns /

noun

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

Independence ¹ British

/ ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns /

noun

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

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

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.

She thought the training would help build the brothers' confidence and independence, but was surprised by just how much they got involved.

From BBC

Paramount Skydance chief David Ellison sought Thursday to calm fears over the future of CNN, pledging to protect the news network's editorial independence as his company closes in on a landmark takeover of Warner Bros.

From Barron's

The BBC is expected to tell the government on Thursday that there is "a risk around the perception of independence".

From BBC

Sudan has been at war in some form or another most of the time since its independence from British colonial rule in 1956 – 58 out of the past 70 years.

From BBC

In the background, the Indian independence movement gathered pace, as did the rift between the country’s Hindu and Muslim populations.

From The Wall Street Journal

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