The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Independent \In`de*pend"ent\, a. [Pref. in- not + dependent: cf.
   F. ind['e]pendant.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. Not dependent; free; not subject to control by others; not
      relying on others; not subordinate; as, few men are wholly
      independent.
      [1913 Webster]

            A dry, but independent crust.         --Cowper.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Affording a comfortable livelihood; as, an independent
      property.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Not subject to bias or influence; not obsequious;
      self-directing; as, a man of an independent mind.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Expressing or indicating the feeling of independence;
      free; easy; bold; unconstrained; as, an independent air or
      manner.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. Separate from; exclusive; irrespective.
      [1913 Webster]

            That obligation in general, under which we conceive
            ourselves bound to obey a law, independent of those
            resources which the law provides for its own
            enforcement.                          --R. P. Ward.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. (Eccl.) Belonging or pertaining to, or holding to the
      doctrines or methods of, the Independents.
      [1913 Webster]

   7. (Math.) Not dependent upon another quantity in respect to
      value or rate of variation; -- said of quantities or
      functions.
      [1913 Webster]

   8. (U. S. Politics) Not bound by party; exercising a free
      choice in voting with either or any party.
      [1913 Webster]

   Independent company (Mil.), one not incorporated in any
      regiment.

   Independent seconds watch, a stop watch having a second
      hand driven by a separate set of wheels, springs, etc.,
      for timing to a fraction of a second.

   Independent variable. (Math.) See Dependent variable,
      under Dependent.

   Syn: Free; uncontrolled; separate; uncoerced; self-reliant;
        bold; unconstrained; unrestricted.
        [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Independent \In`de*pend"ent\, n.
   1. (Eccl.) One who believes that an organized Christian
      church is complete in itself, competent to
      self-government, and independent of all ecclesiastical
      authority.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: In England the name is often applied (commonly in the
         pl.) to the Congregationalists.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. (Politics) One who does not acknowledge an obligation to
      support a party's candidate under all circumstances; one
      who exercises liberty in voting.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

independent
    adj 1: free from external control and constraint; "an
           independent mind"; "a series of independent judgments";
           "fiercely independent individualism" [ant: dependent]
    2: (of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces; "an
       autonomous judiciary"; "a sovereign state" [syn:
       autonomous, independent, self-governing, sovereign]
    3: (of a clause) capable of standing syntactically alone as a
       complete sentence; "the main (or independent) clause in a
       complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb" [syn:
       independent, main(a)] [ant: dependent, subordinate]
    4: not controlled by a party or interest group
    n 1: a neutral or uncommitted person (especially in politics)
         [syn: mugwump, independent, fencesitter]
    2: a writer or artist who sells services to different employers
       without a long-term contract with any of them [syn:
       freelancer, freelance, free-lance, free lance,
       independent, self-employed person]