anarchism
Americannoun
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a doctrine urging the abolition of government or governmental restraint as the indispensable condition for full social and political liberty.
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the methods or practices of anarchists, as the use of violence to undermine government.
noun
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political theory a doctrine advocating the abolition of government
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the principles or practice of anarchists
Discover More
Anarchy is sometimes used to refer to any state of chaos or lawlessness.
Other Word Forms
- proanarchism noun
- semianarchism noun
Etymology
Origin of anarchism
Compare meaning
How does anarchism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If you're a proponent of anarchism, you believe in a political system that does away with all government. Someone who favors anarchism can be described as an anarchist, a person who places the most political importance on individual freedom, especially from powerful governments. Anarchism is a political philosophy that opposes hierarchies — systems in which a more powerful person or group is in charge — and favors equality between all people. The Greek root word of anarchism is anarkhia, "lack of a leader," or "the state of no government."
Vocabulary lists containing anarchism
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.
Other themes included veganism – total avoidance of any animal food or products – and anarchism.
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2025
It is funny that the connection between punk and anarchism is kind of manufactured, but then becomes a popular political movement across the world.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2023
One defense of anarchism is that governments do things that would be impermissible for private individuals.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
“It explained anarchism in such a way that people could understand that in everyday life most of us already practice some of its core principles.”
From New York Times • Jun. 11, 2022
During the war the government had established a new immigration code that made any form of anarchism a crime.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
