independence

¹

[ in-di-pen-duhns ]

noun

1. Also the state or quality of being independent.
2. freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.
3. Archaic. a competency.

Independence

²

[ in-di-pen-duhns ]

noun

1. a city in W Missouri: starting point of the Santa Fe and Oregon trails.
2. a town in SE Kansas.

Independence

¹

/ ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns /

noun

1. a city in W Missouri, near Kansas City: starting point for the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails (1831–44). Pop: 112 079 (2003 est)

independence

²

/ ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns /

noun

1. the state or quality of being independent Also calledindependency

Independence

1. City in western Missouri .

Notes

Beginning of the Santa Fe Trail , used by settlers moving west.

Other Words From

• inter·inde·pendence noun
• postin·de·pendence adjective
• prein·de·pendence noun
• super·inde·pendence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of independence¹

First recorded in 1630–40; independ(ent) + -ence

Synonym Study

See freedom.

Example Sentences

Even so, in the summer of 2024, Americans consumed 375 million hamburgers in celebration of Independence Day – more than any other food.

From Salon

That, as you know, evolved in the U.S. after the War of Independence to exclude the common people from participation in the political process and to favor and support the elites.

From Salon

And he’s not alone: Outside Independence Hall, Salon spoke with a literal busload full of disaffected Republicans who plan to take their party back — by voting blue in November.

From Salon

Independence was a pillar of Ka’s career: He created his Iron Works record label and had taken it upon himself to promote his music and sell his own merchandise, even recently.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet perhaps no founding father was as passionate about the sciences as the Declaration of Independence co-author and third president, Thomas Jefferson.

From Salon

Related Words

• ability
• autonomy
• self-determination
• self-government
• self-reliance
• self-rule
• self-sufficiency
• separation
• sovereignty