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definitions

lawless

[ law-lis ]
/ ˈlɔ lɪs /
|
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adjective

contrary to or without regard for the law: lawless violence.
being without law; uncontrolled by a law; unbridled; unruly; unrestrained: lawless passion.
illegal: bootleggers' lawless activity.

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RELATED WORDS

barbarous, chaotic, turbulent, violent, unruly, anarchic, bad, contumacious, criminal, despotic, disobedient, disordered, disorderly, evil, fierce, heterodox, insubordinate, insurgent, mutinous, nihilistic

Nearby words

  1. lawfully,
  2. lawgiver,
  3. lawin,
  4. lawing,
  5. lawks,
  6. lawlessly,
  7. lawmaker,
  8. lawman,
  9. lawn,
  10. lawn bowling

Origin of lawless

First recorded in 1150–1200, lawless is from the Middle English word laweles. See law1, -less
Related formslaw·less·ly, adverblaw·less·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for lawless

British Dictionary definitions for lawless

lawless

/ (ˈlɔːlɪs) /

adjective

without law
disobedient to the law
contrary to or heedless of the law
uncontrolled; unbridledlawless rage
Derived Formslawlessly, adverblawlessness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for lawless

lawless

adj.

c.1200, lawelese (see law + -less) Related: Lawlessly; lawlessness.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper