lawless
gb/lˈɔləs/ us/lˈɔləs/
B2
English
~ 9200
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
Having no law or order
Describing a place or time where the police or the government do not really control crime or keep order.
Usage pattern:
a lawless [place]/[area]/[situation]/[period]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "lawless" when they only mean "illegal" for a single action. "Lawless" usually describes a place, situation, or period where law and order in general are weak or absent, while "illegal" describes one specific act that is against the law.
Synonyms
unpoliced (Focuses on the lack of active police presence rather than the general absence of law and order.)
|
anarchic (Suggests a complete lack of government or control, sometimes broader than strictly legal order.)
Antonyms
orderly (Emphasizes that rules are followed and public order is maintained.)
|
lawful (Stresses that actions or conditions are in accordance with the law and legal structures work.)
Collocations
lawless society
|lawless frontier
|lawless region
|lawless streets
|lawless area
|lawless times
Themes
crime
|society
|politics
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- During the civil war, the countryside became a lawless wasteland controlled by armed groups.
- The film shows a lawless frontier town where sheriffs rarely last more than a week.
- Without a functioning police force, the city drifted toward a lawless state.
- Pirates once ruled these lawless seas, attacking any ship they found.
- The collapse of the regime left parts of the country effectively lawless.
Learner examples
- The village was lawless after the police left.
- People were afraid to go out at night because the streets were lawless.
- In that lawless border area, many crimes were never reported.
- The movie is about a lawless town in the Wild West.
- Children could not play outside in the lawless neighborhood.
adjective
C1
property
2
Not obeying the law
Describing a person, group, or behavior that often does things that are against the law.
Usage pattern:
a lawless [person]/[gang]/[crowd]/[act]/[behavior]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "lawless" with "careless" or "rude." "Lawless" is specifically about breaking or ignoring the law, not just having bad manners or not paying attention.
Synonyms
criminal (Directly states that someone breaks the law; more legal and serious in tone.)
|
outlaw (Often suggests a romantic or rebellious image of someone living outside the law.)
Antonyms
law-abiding (Highlights that a person carefully follows the law and respects legal rules.)
|
respectable (Adds a social judgment of being proper and trusted, not just legally obedient.)
Collocations
lawless youth
|lawless behavior
|lawless mob
|lawless gang
|lawless elements
Themes
crime
|character
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The government promised to crack down on the lawless gangs controlling the ports.
- He grew up running with a lawless crowd that stole cars for fun.
- The protest began peacefully but turned lawless when a small group started looting shops.
- A few lawless individuals can damage the reputation of an entire community.
- Their lawless behavior on the road put many lives at risk.
Learner examples
- The police arrested the lawless gang.
- A few lawless boys broke all the windows.
- The coach will not accept lawless behavior on the team.
- Lawless fans started fights after the game.
- Some drivers are completely lawless on the highway.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lawless
IPA
GB/lˈɔləs/
US/lˈɔləs/
Syllables & stress
law - less (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (law)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: lawless
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.