standalone

or stand-a·lone

[ stand-uh-lohn ]

adjective

1. complete unto itself; not being or understood as part of a set, system, or series; self-contained: The studio doubted that this story would find an audience as a stand-alone film.

   Our aerospace degree plan is a standalone program, and not a division of the mechanical engineering department.

   The studio doubted that this story would find an audience as a stand-alone film.

2. Computers. able to operate without other hardware or software:

   There are several standalone apps you can use to add live captioning to your videos.

noun

1. a single work that may be understood and appreciated without knowledge of other episodes, books, issues, etc.:

   The author has taken a break from the series to put out two standalones just in time for the holidays.

2. Computers. a device or program that does not need other hardware or software to fully function:

   A decent VR rig for your PC won’t be any cheaper than a standalone.

Word History and Origins

Origin of standalone¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Mace, meanwhile, is reserving the right to file his bathroom as a privileged resolution or amendment if she's unable to pass it as standalone legislation, Punchbowl reported.

From Salon

“Perhaps a private equity owner would find them attractive, but we think a standalone public stock may not perform well.”

From Los Angeles Times

Housing benefit is paid to low-income households to cover all or part of their rent, either as a standalone payment or as part of Universal Credit.

From BBC

The company has also clarified that Chick-fil-A Play is not just a standalone streaming service — it's both a streaming platform and an app.

From Salon

“C&S would be acquiring a patchwork of assets cobbled together by Kroger’s antitrust lawyers,” the FTC said in its motion for an injunction, “not a standalone business likely to succeed.”

From Los Angeles Times