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Noun: lawlessness  lo-lus-nus
  1. A state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)
    "The country fell into lawlessness after the collapse of the central government";
    - anarchy
     
  2. Illegality as a consequence of unlawful acts; defiance of the law
    "The gang's lawlessness terrorized the small town";
    - outlawry

Type of: disorder, illegality

Encyclopedia: Lawlessness