anarchy
Definitions
A state of disorder and lawlessness, especially due to the absence of government control.
无政府状态；混乱无序（尤指因缺乏政府管控）。
The political belief that society should have no government or ruling authority.
无政府主义（认为社会不应有政府或统治权威的政治主张）。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedan- (Greek 'without, no') + arch (rule) + -y (state) = literally 'no ruler.' Strictly it names the absence of government; in everyday use it slid toward 'chaos,' since people assume that with nobody in charge, order collapses. Compare monarchy (one ruler), oligarchy (few rulers).
Root arch still carries 12 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.complete anarchy完全无政府
- 2.state of anarchy无政府状态
- 3.descend into anarchy陷入无政府
- 4.political anarchy政治无政府
Example Sentences
- 1.
When the police vanished, the city descended into anarchy.
- 2.
Without clear rules, the meeting quickly turned to anarchy.
- 3.
He argued that anarchy, not government, best protects freedom.
Easily Confused
anarchy vs chaos — chaos is any total disorder (a chaotic kitchen, chaotic traffic); anarchy specifically means disorder from the absence of ruling authority. All anarchy is chaotic, but not all chaos is anarchy — only social/political breakdown counts.