anarchy

[ an-er-kee ]

noun

1. a state of society without government or law.
2. political and social disorder due to the absence of governmental control:

   The death of the king was followed by a year of anarchy.

   Synonyms: lawlessness, turmoil, disruption

3. anarchism ( def 1 ).
4. lack of obedience to an authority; insubordination:

   the anarchy of his rebellious teenage years.

5. confusion and disorder:

   Intellectual and moral anarchy followed his loss of faith.

   It was impossible to find the book I was looking for in the anarchy of his bookshelves.

   Synonyms: disintegration, turbulence, disorganization, license, disruption, chaos

anarchy

/ ˈænəkɪ; ænˈɑːkɪk /

noun

1. general lawlessness and disorder, esp when thought to result from an absence or failure of government
2. the absence or lack of government
3. the absence of any guiding or uniting principle; disorder; chaos
4. the theory or practice of political anarchism

Derived Forms

• anarchic, adjective
• anˈarchically, adverb

Other Words From

• hyper·anar·chy noun
• pro·anar·chy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anarchy¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Middle French anarchie or Medieval Latin anarchia or directly from Greek anarchía “lawlessness,” literally, “lack of a leader,” equivalent to ánarch(os) “leaderless” ( an- “without, lacking” + arch(ós) “leader” + -os adjective suffix) + -ia noun suffix; an- ¹, -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of anarchy¹

C16: from Medieval Latin anarchia, from Greek anarkhia, from anarkhos without a ruler, from an- + arkh- leader, from arkhein to rule

Example Sentences

A subtle camera push heightens the alluring atmosphere that paints a portrait of quintessential Joker: juxtaposing beauty with anarchy.

From Los Angeles Times

He said the party had struggled to counteract Republican attack lines on "anarchy on college campuses, defund the police, biological boys playing in girls' sports, and a general attack on traditional values".

From BBC

Whatever happens, Shears promises a "little bit of chaos and anarchy" on the stage.

From BBC

“Joker: Folie à Deux” seems designed as a middle finger to those who enjoyed the anarchy of the original, Times columnist Glenn Whipp notes in his newsletter.

From Los Angeles Times

"We've seen earlier experiments to eliminate bureaucracy that typically ended in anarchy."

From Salon

Related Words

• chaos
• confusion
• disorder
• disorganization
• lawlessness
• nihilism
• riot
• turmoil