Independent

Independent describes a state of autonomy or freedom from dependence on or control by others. It can refer to individuals who manage their own affairs without outside control, to organizations that operate without external authority, and to political units that are not subject to a higher sovereign. In daily language, an independent person is self-reliant and capable of making decisions and bearing responsibility.

In science and academics, independence has specific technical senses. An independent variable is one that is deliberately varied to observe its effect on a dependent variable; the independent variable is not caused by other variables in the experiment. In grammar, an independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence because it expresses a complete thought. In probability, two events are independent if the outcome of one does not affect the probability of the other.

Independence can refer to political independence—when a state or colony achieves self-government and sovereignty. Independence movements seek to sever political ties and may lead to the formation of a new nation recognized by others. The term also appears in law and employment, where an independent contractor is engaged to perform work under a contract and is not an employee of the hiring party.

Independent media or film describes outlets or productions produced without corporate or state sponsorship, often seeking editorial freedom. In finance and governance, independence is valued for auditors, watchdog bodies, and boards to reduce conflicts of interest.