semi-independent

American  

[sem-ee-in-di-pen-duhnt] / ˌsɛm iˌɪn dɪˈpɛn dənt /

adjective

1. (of a political entity) having substantial self-government in regard to local matters but subordinate in such external matters as foreign policy; semiautonomous.

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Other Word Forms

• semi-independently adverb

Etymology

Origin of semi-independent

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Meta launched the oversight board in 2020 as a semi-independent group providing supervision of content moderation decisions across its platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

Since 1887, when Congress created the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroad rates, the government has had semi-independent boards and commissions led by a mix of Republicans and Democrats.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

By Monday morning, the Israel Defense Forces announced it would launch an investigation into the "circumstances of the deaths of civilians in the area of the strike," under the auspices of a semi-independent fact-finding body.

From Salon • May 27, 2024

The primary mission of the Joint Arctic Command is to ensure Danish sovereignty by monitoring the area around the Faeroe Islands and Greenland, two semi-independent territories that are part of the Danish realm.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 12, 2023

That country was divided into a series of semi-independent provinces, whose inhabitants differed, not only in the leaders whom they followed, but in speech, race, and customs.

From Architecture Gothic and Renaissance by Smith, T. Roger (Thomas Roger)