Set lad free of independent states (7)
I believe the answer is:
federal
'set lad free of independent states' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'set lad free' is the wordplay.
'set' indicates anagramming the letters (instruction to set the letters).
'lad'+'free'='ladfree'
'ladfree' anagrammed gives 'FEDERAL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for federal that I've seen before include "Common government for a group of normally autonomous states or regions" , "like the USA" , "Of the state" , "describing Stateside governance" , "Lad-free (anag)" .)