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• independence
  independence

  noun

  Also the state or quality of being independent.
• Independence
  Independence

  noun

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

independence

¹ American  

[in-di-pen-duhns] / ˌɪn dɪˈpɛn dəns /

noun

independence plural

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.

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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.

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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)

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independence ² British  

/ ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns /

noun

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

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Independence Cultural  

1. City in western Missouri.

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Synonym Usage

See freedom.

Discover More

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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• independence
  plural

Etymology

Origin of independence

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

Explanation

Independence is the state of being free of the control of some other person, country or entity. Revolutions are all about obtaining independence, most famously perhaps the Revolutionary War in America, which led to America's freedom from Britain. Independence comes from a nice medieval French word, depenre, meaning "to hang from," or "to hang down." The in at the beginning is Latin for "not," so the word originally meant "not hanging from," which is a neat description of what countries achieve by throwing off their colonizers. Teenagers also commonly seek independence from their parents — but perhaps not financial independence.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

independence Independence

In the future, the approach could potentially help people maintain strength, independence, quality of life, and a longer healthy lifespan as they grow older.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026

"The court has reaffirmed that the government cannot use its legal powers to intimidate reporters or erode the independence of the press."

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

It will take more yet for most people to feel powerful momentum toward financial independence.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

Mistral has touted the importance of Europe’s independence from U.S. technology companies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

Percy was a mercenary who fought in the Dutch war for independence from Spain.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

"Independence carries a price, and the machinery of the Court can be turned against its own officeholders whenever their independence becomes inconvenient," they said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

Garcia is American with Mexican heritage and the fight will take place on the weekend before Mexican Independence Day.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

I had my AirPods in, and my gingham shirt and bandana signaled I was ready to celebrate Independence Day.

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026

Also new to the story is Independence, Kan., itself, which in the book is an offstage place to which Pa will sometimes go to fetch necessities, disappearing from the story until he returns.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

Of all the original signers of the Declaration of Independence, “You are the youngest and the most energetic in mind and body,” and therefore most likely to be the final survivor.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• ability
• autonomy
• self-determination
• self-government
• self-reliance
• self-rule
• self-sufficiency
• separation
• sovereignty