DictionaryAI

anarchy

noun
USAN-ahr-kee/ˈæ.nɑɹ.ki/UK · AUSAN-uh-kee/ˈæ.nə.ki/

Pluralanarchies

4 meanings of anarchy

Practice

  1. 1
    lawless chaosnouncountable
    A situation with no government or anyone in power, where everything is out of control and confusing.

    After the king was killed, the country fell into anarchy.

    When the leaders ran away, there was anarchy in the streets, and no one kept order.

    Similarlawlessness, chaos, disorder, mayhem

    Oppositeorder

    Note
  2. 2
    general disordernouncountable or uncountable
    A lack of order in any place or activity, where things are messy and confused.

    The moment the teacher stepped out, there was anarchy in the classroom.

    My little brother's room is pure anarchy, with toys and clothes all over the floor.

    Similarchaos, disorder, mayhem, confusion, pandemonium

    Oppositeorder, orderliness

    Note
  3. 3
    life without rulersnoununcountable
    The condition of a society that has no government and no one in power over it.

    The island in the story has no king and no leaders, and people live there in peaceful anarchy.

    My uncle says anarchy would be better than a government that lies to people.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    political theorynounrareuncountable
    The political belief that a community is best run by people cooperating freely, not by a government, which always uses force.

    He believes in anarchy and thinks governments only use force to control people.

    At the meeting, one speaker argued for anarchy, saying people could share work without any boss or government.

    Similaranarchism

    Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from a Latin word, which came from an old Greek word. It is made of an- and -archy.