lawless
Americanadjective
-
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.
adjective
-
without law
-
disobedient to the law
-
contrary to or heedless of the law
-
uncontrolled; unbridled
lawless rage
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lawless
First recorded in 1150–1200; from Middle English laweles; see law 1, -less
Explanation
A lawless society is one without any rules or order. In some respects, the Old West era of the U.S. was a lawless time. When you think of old-timey saloons and sheriffs and cowboys, you probably envision lawless bandits riding boldly into town — in other words, criminals accustomed to making their own rules, rather than following any established laws. A lawless city today is one that's in such chaos that order can't be kept, even by police officers. To be lawless is to be without law, which stems from the Old English lagu, "law or rule."
Vocabulary lists containing lawless
Fear and Loathing in Cleveland: Trump's RNC Acceptance Speech
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Way Off: Synonyms for "Wrong"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Wrong
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Venezuela has launched a U.S.-backed military campaign to target criminal groups in a lawless gold-mining region as it seeks to open the area to American investment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
One local woman, who did not wish to be named, told us she thought the area had become "lawless".
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
What she’s targeting is the lawless underlying subpoena, saying it was unenforceable to begin with.
From Slate ● May 18, 2026
“Immigration scammers contribute to a lawless environment, undermining our immigration system,” said Zach Kahler, a spokesperson for Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency Urbina falsely thought had awarded her residency.
From Salon ● May 2, 2026
“That place is just a lawless heap of rocks, a no-man’s-land.”
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
