anomy

/ˈænəmi/
noun
  1. A state of society or personal feeling where there is a lack of clear rules, values, or moral guidance; a sense of normlessness.
    • Many sociologists study anomy to understand why people feel disconnected in modern cities.
    • The character in the novel experienced deep anomy after losing his job and family.
    • After the revolution, the country fell into a period of anomy as old laws were abandoned.
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