independence

/ˈɪndəˌpɛndəns/

/ɪndɪˈpɛndəns/

Other forms: independences

Independence is the state of being free of the control of some other person, country or entity. Revolutions are all about obtaining independence, most famously perhaps the Revolutionary War in America, which led to America's freedom from Britain.

Independence comes from a nice medieval French word, depenre, meaning "to hang from," or "to hang down." The in at the beginning is Latin for "not," so the word originally meant "not hanging from," which is a neat description of what countries achieve by throwing off their colonizers. Teenagers also commonly seek independence from their parents — but perhaps not financial independence.

Definitions of independence

1. noun

   freedom from control or influence of another or others
   synonyms: independency

   types:

   autonomy, liberty

   immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence

   autarchy, autarky

   economic independence as a national policy

   autonomy, self-direction, self-reliance, self-sufficiency

   personal independence

   separateness

   political independence

   self-determination, self-government, self-rule

   government by a country's own people rather than by an outside power

   type of:

   freedom

   the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
2. noun

   the successful ending of the American Revolution
   “they maintained close relations with England even after independence”

   type of:

   triumph, victory

   a successful ending of a struggle or contest