Word
lawlessness
Phoneticslaw·less·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫɔɫəsnəs/
UK/lˈɔːləsnəs/
Definition
n. a state where there is no law or order. It means people do not follow rules and there is no police to stop them.
n. the absence of legal order or the lack of enforcement of laws. Often describes a state of anarchy or a breakdown in social discipline.
Examples
“The city suffered from lawlessness after the government collapsed.”
“The sudden lawlessness in the border region made it dangerous for any traveler to pass through without a guide.”
“Historians often debate whether the lawlessness of the frontier was a necessary catalyst for innovation or a chaotic period that hindered long-term economic stability.”
Examples
simple
“The city suffered from lawlessness after the government collapsed.”
contextual
“The sudden lawlessness in the border region made it dangerous for any traveler to pass through without a guide.”
complex
“Historians often debate whether the lawlessness of the frontier was a necessary catalyst for innovation or a chaotic period that hindered long-term economic stability.”
Real-World Examples
“But as a study I was recently involved in shows, this sense of increasing lawlessness is based on very faulty perceptions of trends in actual crime rates.” Etymology
From lawless + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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