Word
lawless
Phoneticslaw·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫɔɫəs/
UK/lˈɔːləs/
Definitions
01without legal governance
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law
adj. describes a place where there is no government or legal system to keep order.
adj. describes a region or society lacking established legal structures or effective government control.
“In the early days of the gold rush, the mining towns were completely lawless.”
“The remote border regions remained lawless for decades, as the central government lacked the resources to station permanent police forces there.”
Synonyms
02disorderly and violent
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describes people or behavior that ignores the law and acts in a wild or dangerous way.
adj. characterized by a lack of restraint, discipline, or respect for legal authority; often implies unruly or criminal behavior.
“The city became lawless during the blackout, with groups of people breaking into shops.”
“The protest turned into a lawless riot, forcing local businesses to board up their windows against the escalating violence.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03illegal
C1 · Advanced Law Formal · Literary
adj. against the law or not allowed by legal rules.
adj. contrary to or prohibited by law; often used in a formal or literary context to emphasize the immorality of an act.
“The king was criticized for his lawless actions against his own people.”
“The tribunal condemned the general's lawless seizure of private property during the occupation.”
Etymology
From Middle English laweles; equivalent to law + -less. Cognate with Danish lovløs (“lawless”), Swedish laglös (“lawless”), Norwegian lovløs (“lawless”), Icelandic löglaus (“lawless”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/lawless