anomie
/ˈænəmi/
noun
- A state of society or personal feeling where there is a lack of moral standards, values, or social guidance; a sense of normlessness.
- He felt a deep anomie after moving to a new country where he didn't know the customs.
- The rapid industrialization led to a period of anomie as old traditions were abandoned.
- Sociologists study anomie to understand why some communities experience higher crime rates.
Synonyms