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lawlessness

American  
[law-lis-nis] / ˈlɔ lɪs nɪs /

noun

  1. the quality or condition of being without regard for the law; behavior that is contrary to or shows indifference to the law.

    Unfortunately, a lot of confusion, lawlessness, stupidity, and even death surrounds alcohol use in college settings.

  2. the state or condition of being without law or law enforcement to provide control or restraint.

    For several months, the emerging nation looked as if it would slip into lawlessness and civil war.

Etymology

Origin of lawlessness

First recorded in 1585–95; lawless ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

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.