adjective

1. free from the influence, control, or determination of another or others; specif.,
   1. free from the rule of another; controlling or governing oneself; self-governing
   2. free from influence, persuasion, or bias; objective an independent observer
   3. relying only on oneself or one's own abilities, judgment, etc.; self-confident; self-reliant independent in his thinking
   4. not adhering to any political party or organization an independent voter
   5. not connected or related to another, to each other, or to a group; separate an independent grocer
2. 1. not depending on another or others, esp. for financial support
   2. large enough to enable one to live without working: said of an income, a fortune, etc.
   3. having an independent income; not needing to work for a living
3. of or having to do with Independents

Etymology: ML independens: see in- & dependent

noun

1. a person who is independent in thinking, action, etc.
2. ☆ a voter who is not an adherent of or committed to any political party
3. a member of a religious and political movement of the 17th cent. in England that advocated self-sufficiency of each local Christian church: the movement led to the organization of Congregationalists and Baptists