adj Uncommon

lawless

LAW-luhs

Lawless (adj) means having no laws or effective government controlling it. Example: “The frontier town was virtually lawless in its early years.”

adj

Having no laws or effective government controlling it.

"The frontier town was virtually lawless in its early years."

"Parts of the region became lawless during the civil war."

Ignoring or violating the law; unruly and out of control.

"The mob's lawless behaviour left several shops wrecked."

How to use lawless

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWithout law, or refusing to obey it.

Common pairings

a lawless society lawless behaviour

more lawless comparative, Lawlesses plural, most lawless superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The frontier town was virtually _____ in its early years.

From Middle English laweles — "law" plus the negating suffix "-less."

Origin: Middle English

flawless

What does “lawless” mean?

The word “lawless” means having no laws or effective government controlling it. In plain terms, without law, or refusing to obey it.

How do you pronounce “lawless”?

“Lawless” is pronounced LAW-luhs (/ˈlɔːləs/ in IPA).

How do you use “lawless” in a sentence?

Here is “lawless” used in a sentence: “The frontier town was virtually lawless in its early years.”

What part of speech is “lawless”?

“Lawless” is an adjective.

Where does the word “lawless” come from?

The word “lawless” comes from Middle English. From Middle English laweles — "law" plus the negating suffix "-less.".

Is “lawless” a common word?

“Lawless” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “lawless” have?

“Lawless” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having no laws or effective government controlling it.