1.
An ~ country, organization, or group governs or controls itself rather than being controlled by anyone else.
They proudly declared themselves part of a new ~ province.
= independent
ADJ: usu ADJ n
2.
An ~ person makes their own decisions rather than being influenced by someone else.
He treated us as ~ individuals who had to learn to make up our own minds about important issues.
= independent
ADJ: usu ADJ n