indie
/ˈɪndi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪndi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈɪn.di/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪn.di/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈin-dē/ (ame, mw)
indie — adjective
- indiepositive
- more indiecomparative
- most indiesuperlative
1. describes a business, artist, or creative work that is small in scale, run by in
describes a business, artist, or creative work that is small in scale, run by individuals rather than a large corporation, and free from control by a major chain or studio.
Tendai runs an indie record store that only sells vinyl albums by local bands.
attributive: indie + noun describing a small business
The film was produced by an indie studio with no support from a Hollywood giant.
Gabriela prefers the raw sound of indie music to the polished pop on mainstream radio.
Small indie publishers often take risks on debut novels that big houses reject.
- independent
the original full form; more formal and neutral in tone. An independent bookstore and an indie bookstore mean the same thing, but indie sounds more familiar.
- alternative
overlaps in music and film, but alternative emphasises non-mainstream style rather than ownership structure.
- small-scale
focuses on size and reach, not ownership. A small-scale bakery is not necessarily an indie one.
- underground
stronger connotation of being outside or opposed to the mainstream; not limited to business structure.
- mainstream
describes something produced by or appealing to the general public through large corporate channels.
- corporate
describes something owned or operated by a large business group.
文法句型
indie + noun (band, film, label, store, game)
用法筆記
Indie is used almost exclusively before a noun (attributive position) — you say an indie band, not that band is indie. The adjective retains an informal, sometimes nostalgic tone associated with the 1980s–90s alternative music scene.
常見錯誤
indie — noun
- indiesingular
- indiesplural
1. a small, independently owned business — especially a music label, film studio, r
a small, independently owned business — especially a music label, film studio, record shop, or game developer — that is not part of a large corporate group.
After leaving the major label, the band signed with a small indie based in Taipei.
countable: an indie = an independent company
Many indies have closed since the chain bookstore opened on the same street.
Christopher started his own indie to publish video games made by university friends.
The indie paid its musicians a fair share of every ticket sold at their shows.
- independent company
the full form; more formal and less common in casual speech.
- startup
focuses on newness and growth rather than ownership structure. A startup may eventually be bought by a large corporation.
- small business
broader term covering any small enterprise, regardless of corporate ownership.
- major label
a large music corporation such as Universal, Sony, or Warner.
- chain store
a retail outlet that is part of a larger group with many locations.
文法句型
a/an + indie
indie + verb (singular/plural)
用法筆記
Often refers specifically to a record label or film studio, but can be any small business. The plural form indies is common when talking about the sector as a whole (e.g. the rise of indies in gaming).
常見錯誤
2. a specific creative work — such as a film, music album, or video game — that com
a specific creative work — such as a film, music album, or video game — that comes from an indie company instead of a major mainstream studio or label.
Sora's latest indie won a top award at a film festival in Kaohsiung.
countable: an indie = an independently produced work
That quirky indie about a singing janitor became a surprise box office hit.
Ilan collects rare indies pressed on coloured vinyl from the 1990s.
The game studio released its first indie free to download on a digital platform.
- independent film
the full form; more formal and unambiguous.
- independent production
can refer to any work, not just films; broader and more formal.
- arthouse film
overlaps with indie film but emphasises artistic ambition over production context.
- blockbuster
a large-budget mainstream film, usually from a major studio.
- major release
a film or record distributed by a large corporation with wide commercial reach.
文法句型
a/an + indie
indie + noun phrase as appositive
用法筆記
This sense refers to the product itself, not the company that made it. To distinguish: an indie (company) produces an indie (film/album/game).