Words / C2

AN-uh-mee/ˈænəmi/

Anomie is a lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group: a mood of anomie, anomie after the drill. A norm (already in the dictionary) is the usual accepted way; a rule and a law (already in the dictionary) are official instructions, and a government rule. Society (already in the dictionary) is people living as a community; chaos and disorder (already in the dictionary) are complete confusion, and a lack of order — cousins of mess, not of missing ethics. This batch: aporia is puzzlement in argument, not a collapse of norms. After a drill, name the warden.

Meaning

A lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group.

Examples

• “Anomie after the drill is not cover; name the warden.”
• “A norm is what is usual or accepted (already in B2). A rule is what you must follow (already in A2). A law is an official government rule (already in B1). Society is the community (already in B1). Chaos is complete disorder (already in B1). Disorder is a lack of order (already in B2). Aporia is an irresolvable puzzle (this batch). A dated rota can still be short. Mood that never names the night post is a hole. Write the name; leave the sociology.”

Good to know

Normlessness; social unravelling. Everyday: rule (already in this dictionary). Close: norm (already in B2); law / society (already in B1). Mix-up: chaos / disorder (mess — already in this dictionary). This batch: aporia. Mood ≠ a warden.

Near in meaning

normlessness, alienation, breakdown, rootlessness

New