# lawless

/ˈɫɔɫəs/ (US) · /lˈɔːləs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lawless
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. without legal governance

adjective · CEFR B2

describes a place where there is no government or legal system to keep order.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. disorderly and violent

adjective · CEFR B2

describes people or behavior that ignores the law and acts in a wild or dangerous way.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. illegal

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

against the law or not allowed by legal rules.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The frontier was a lawless place where everyone carried a gun.
- After the central government collapsed, the border regions became lawless territories ruled by local gangs.
- Historians often debate whether the early gold-rush settlements were truly lawless or if they simply operated under informal social contracts that preceded formal legislation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.