anarchy

noun

an·​ar·​chy ˈa-nər-kē  -ˌnär- 

1

a

: absence of government

b

: a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority

the city's descent into anarchy

c

: a utopian society of individuals who enjoy complete freedom without government

2

a

: absence or denial of any authority or established order

anarchy prevailed in the war zone

b

: absence of order : disorder

not manicured plots but a wild anarchy of nature

—Israel Shenker

3

: anarchism

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The Multiple Meanings of Anarchy

Anarchy exemplifies how words may have similar yet distinctive meanings. The earliest recorded use of the word, from the early 16th century, meant simply “absence of government,” albeit with the implication of civil disorder. A similar but ameliorated meaning began to be employed in the 19th century in reference to a Utopian society that had no government. The establishment of these two senses of anarchy did not stop the word from being applied outside the realm of government with the broadened meaning ”a state of confusion or disorder.” The existence of definitions that are in semantic conflict does not imply that one (or more) of them is wrong; it simply shows that multisense words like anarchy mean different things in different contexts. Another example of a sense-shifting word relating to government is aristocracy. When first used in English, this word carried the sole meaning “government by the best individuals.” It may still be used in such a fashion, but more commonly, it is encountered in the extended sense “the aggregate of those believed to be superior.”

Synonyms

• lawlessness
• misrule

Examples of anarchy in a Sentence

Its immigration policies in the last five years have become the envy of those in the West who see in all but the most restrictive laws the specter of terrorism and social anarchy. —Caroline Moorehead, New York Review of Books, 16 Nov. 2006

Fueled by booze and the euphoria of having seen their school win a share of its first … title in 36 years, a mob of Beavers fans hurled itself at the cops, breaching both chains and creating anarchy. —Austin Murphy, Sports Illustrated, 27 Nov. 2000

But by the early 1800s, the mines began to play out, and the colonists challenged the Spanish throne for independence. The Silver Cities survived not only the bloody revolution of 1821 but also the ensuing century of anarchy and bloodshed. —David Baird, Continental, February 1999

The anarchy of the Internet may be daunting for the neophyte, but it differs little from the bibliographical chaos that is the result of five and a half centuries of the printing press. —Fred Lerner, The Story of Libraries, (1945) 1998

Anarchy reigned in the empire's remote provinces.

When the teacher was absent, there was anarchy in the classroom.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s never an explanation for his madness or his scars, just as there’s never a straightforward articulation of his plans beyond the broad incitement of anarchy. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 May 2025

Navigating gangs, warlords and anarchy, Snake must rely on his skills and survival instincts to complete the mission before time runs out. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025

The artists could have picked punk rock instead of choir hymns, traveling around dive bars recording punks screaming about anarchy and smashing up their gear. —Oskar Oprey, Artforum, 28 Jan. 2025

Democracy, under the sway of lies, becomes a form of anarchy. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin anarchia, borrowed from Greek anarchía "lack of a leader, lawlessness," from ánarchos "without a head or chief, leaderless" (from an- an- + -archos, derivative of archós "leader, chief") + -ia -y entry 2 — more at -arch entry 1

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

anarchy

noun

an·​ar·​chy ˈan-ər-kē  -ˌär- 

1

: the condition of a country where there is no government

2

: a state of lawlessness, confusion, or disorder