ˈanə(r)kē, -ki sometimes -ˌnärk-, -ˌnȧk- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Medieval Latin anarchia, from Greek, from anarchos rulerless (from an- + archos ruler) + -ia -y — more at archi-
1.
a. : absence of government
society finds its highest perfection in the union of order with anarchy — B.R.Tucker
b. : a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority
an anarchy as absolute as that … during the terror — W.C.Brownell
c. : a Utopian society having no government and made up of individuals who enjoy complete freedom
looks forward to the establishment of anarchy … the absence of a master and the rule of law — J.H.Hallowell
2.
a. : absence or denial of any authority, established order, or ruling power
for our people liberty so often means only license and anarchy — C.L.Sulzberger
b. : absence of order : confusion
have managed to achieve complete anarchy in their electrical fixtures — Richard Joseph
3. : anarchism
society defending itself against heretical anarchy from within — Hilaire Belloc