lawless

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective without law or control
  2. adjective lax in enforcing laws
  3. adjective disobedient to or defiant of law

Etymology

From Middle English laweles; equivalent to law + -less. Cognate with Danish lovløs (“lawless”), Swedish laglös (“lawless”), Norwegian lovløs (“lawless”), Icelandic löglaus (“lawless”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

anarchic, anarchical

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