Legal Definitions - independent

Definition: Independent (adjective) means not being controlled or influenced by someone or something else. It can also mean not being associated with another entity or not being dependent on something else.

• An independent investigation was conducted to ensure fairness and impartiality.
• The company has an independent subsidiary that operates on its own.
• She is an independent person who doesn't rely on anyone else for support.

The first example shows that an independent investigation was conducted to ensure that no one had any influence or control over the investigation. The second example shows that the subsidiary operates on its own and is not controlled by the parent company. The third example shows that the person is self-sufficient and doesn't rely on anyone else for support.