plural indies
1
: someone or something that is independent : someone or something that has no formal association with a larger controlling unit
Several indies [=independent booksellers] selling new books have opened in Pittsburgh since 2016 …—Claire Kirch
especially
: an unaffiliated record, movie, or video game production company
Due to the Mekons' long and labored difficulties with major labels, [Jon] Langford now works only handshake deals with the Chicago indies who have released his different projects. —Mark Guarino
2
: a project or work (such as a movie or video game) produced by an indie
… an indie that is definitely worthy of a night out at the movies.—Danny Minton
If you like fast-paced and challenging combat with a sizable helping of Greek mythology, [the game] Hades is … simply one of the best indies around.—Rhys Wood
1
a
: of, relating to, or being an independent company or group : relating to someone or something that is unaffiliated
She … has been signed to the indie [=independent] label Secretly Canadian since 2018 …—Lauren Murphy
b
: being a project or work (such as a record, movie, or video game) produced by an independent company or group
the band's first indie album after leaving the label
an indie movie made on a tiny budget
Indie games are now competing with the big studios for awards.—Zachary Sniderman
2
: of, relating to, or being music that is characterized by artistic freedom and regarded as more avant-garde or unconventional than mainstream music in a comparable genre
These kings of hummable … indie rock may firmly insist that they're not slackers, but a near-dadaist spontaneity rules their studio approach.—Matt Diehl
… low-key indie pop that sounds both ingratiatingly familiar and slightly alien.—Matthew Perpetua
Their sound—a graceful blend of indie folk and chamber pop—draws from classical traditions and Americana, infused with a gentle melancholy that lingers long after the final note.—Cheryl A. Cuddahy
Cite this Entry
“Indie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indie. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
