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.

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Etymology

Origin of lawlessness

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lawlessness

"They're angry at the chief constable for allowing lawlessness to win, for allowing the mob to dictate," she said.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

When those feelings go unaddressed for long enough, Hamm said, people will come to accept a certain amount of lawlessness from the figures they feel can solve their problems.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

Robert King, who grew up in San Jose, watched the Bay Area transform as the technology industry grew, and said there are parallels with the lawlessness of past gold rushes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Still, the reference to 1930s-era Chicago law enforcement was apt, because it was an era of police lawlessness, where unconstitutional practices like the third-degree were justified as necessary to stopping organized crime.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

And God ordered his left hand, the angel Gabriel, to go down to Earth and stop the lawlessness.

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley

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Related Words

• chaos
• confusion
• disorder
• terrorism

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