independence Hear it!

independence Definition

in·de·pend·ence (in′dē pen′dəns, -di-)

noun

  1. the state or quality of being independent; freedom from the influence, control, or determination of another or others
  2. Now Rare an income sufficient for a livelihood

Etymology: ML independentia

Independence Definition

In·de·pend·ence (in′dē pen′dəns, -di-)

city in W Mo.: suburb of Kansas City: pop. 113,000

Etymology: in honor of Andrew Jackson in allusion to his independence of character

independence Synonyms

independence

n.

  1. Liberty

    sovereignty, autonomy, liberation, license; see freedom 1, 2.

  2. Self-reliance

    self-sufficiency, self-confidence, self-containment; see confidence 2.

  3. Neutrality

    nonpartisanship, nonalignment, detachment, objectivity; see fairness, noninterference.

independence Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • declare: Their leader, Ho Chi Min, then declared independence from France.
  • regain: Estonia succeeded in regaining independence by way of the Singing Revolution of 1988.
  • proclaim: After Japanese surrender in August 1945, Vietminh filled the space in Gov. and Ho proclaimed Vietnamese Independence.
  • promote: The Walk to School Campaign is focusing on promoting Independence whilst children walk to school.
  • gain: The Republic of Zambia gained independence from the UK in 1964.
  • attain: Pluralism in print media When Lesotho attained independence in 1966 the setting was complete.

Adjective modifier

  • judicial: The office of Lord Chancellor protected judicial independence for centuries.
  • editorial: We thought that diversity of the press would be adequately protected by editorial independence, except in Northern Ireland.
  • fierce: Echoing his fierce esthetic independence, he did not conform to the image or lifestyle of his avant-garde colleagues.
  • operational: We have given operational independence to the Bank of England to set interest rates to achieve the Government's target for inflation.
  • Indian: Let us celebrate tonight the fifty years of Indian independence.
  • Irish: The matter did not really touch on of Irish national independence, simply on the independence of the colonial parliament in Dublin.

Modifies a noun

  • movement: The majority of the prisoners have spent more than 18 years in federal prison for their activities in the Puerto Rican independence movement.

Noun used with modifier

  • auditor: At present, the regulation of auditor independence in member states differs significantly in scope and content.
  • learner: Develop learner independence through the selection of planned activities which encourage students to become self-reliant.
  • platform: By using this type of driver, you therefore sacrifice the platform independence of JDBC.

Possessives

  • auditor: The Committee reviews the auditors ' independence annually and ensures that they comply with the APB's Ethical Standards.

Preposition: of

  • judiciary: Once appointed, the independence of the judiciary is paramount.
  • auditor: The key feature of the public service model is the independence of auditors from the organizations they audit.
  • thought: I used to think that independence of thought was a Labor virtue.
independence Quotes

One of the virtues, perhaps almost the chief virtue, of a newspaper is its independence.Whatever its position or character, at least it should have a soul of its own.

—Scott, C(harles) P(restwich)

We must recollect†what it is we have at stake, what it is we have to contend for. It is for our property, it is for our liberty, it is for our independence, nay for our existence as a nation; it is for our character, it is for our very name as Englishmen, it is for everything dear and valuable to man on this side of the grave.

—Pitt,William known as  theYounger

Thenewelectronic independencerecreatestheworld in the image of a global village.

—McLuhan, (Herbert) Marshall

The military struggle may frankly be regarded for what it actually was, namely a war for independence, an armed attempt to impose the views of the revolutionists on the British government and large sections of the colonial populationat whatevercosttofreedomofopinionor the sanctity of life and property.

—Schlesinger, Arthur Meier

I can never suppose this country so far lost to all ideas of self-importance as to be willing to grant America independence; if that could ever be adopted, I shall despair of this country being ever preserved froma state George of inferiority, and consequently falling into a very low class among the European states.

—George III