lawless
UK: ˈlɔːləs | US: ˈlɔːləs
adj. without laws; uncontrolled by authority or rules
adj. disregarding or breaking the law; unruly or criminal
The word "lawless" combines "law" (from Old English lagu, meaning "rule" or "ordinance") with the suffix "-less" (from Old English -lēas, meaning "without"). The suffix "-less" is commonly used to negate the root word, creating adjectives that describe the absence of the root's quality. Over time, "lawless" evolved to describe both the literal absence of laws (e.g., a lawless land) and the figurative disregard for laws (e.g., lawless behavior). The logic is straightforward: "without law" → "uncontrolled" or "criminal."
The frontier town was lawless, with no sheriff to maintain order.
The dictator ruled with lawless brutality, ignoring all legal restraints.
Pirates were often seen as lawless outcasts who lived beyond societal rules.
The protest turned lawless when rioters began looting stores.
In a lawless society, justice is often taken into one’s own hands.