Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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

            A dry, but independent crust.         --Cowper.

   2. Affording a comfortable livelihood; as, an independent
      property.

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

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

   5. Separate from; exclusive; irrespective.

            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.

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

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

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

   {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.

Variable \Va"ri*a*ble\, n.
   1. That which is variable; that which varies, or is subject
      to change.

   2. (Math.) A quantity which may increase or decrease; a
      quantity which admits of an infinite number of values in
      the same expression; a variable quantity; as, in the
      equation x^{2} - y^{2} = R^{2}, x and y are variables.

   3. (Naut.)
      (a) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force.
      (b) pl. Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not
          expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind
          belts.

   {Independent variable} (Math.), that one of two or more
      variables, connected with each other in any way whatever,
      to which changes are supposed to be given at will. Thus,
      in the equation x^{2} - y^{2} = R^{2}, if arbitrary
      changes are supposed to be given to x, then x is the
      independent variable, and y is called a function of x.
      There may be two or more independent variables in an
      equation or problem. Cf. {Dependent variable}, under
      {Dependent}.

Source : WordNet®

independent variable
     n : (statistics) a variable whose values are independent of
         changes in the values of other variables [syn: {experimental
         variable}]