anomie

an·o·mie

noun \ˈa-nə-mē\

Definition of ANOMIE

: social instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values; also : personal unrest, alienation, and uncertainty that comes from a lack of purpose or ideals

— ano·mic \ə-ˈnä-mik, -ˈnō-\ adjective

Variants of ANOMIE

an·o·mie also an·o·my \ˈa-nə-mē\

Origin of ANOMIE

French anomie, from Middle French, from Greek anomia lawlessness, from anomos lawless, from a- + nomos law, from nemein to distribute — more at nimble

First Known Use: 1933

Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture