anomie

(an′ə mē)

noun

lack of purpose, identity, or ethical values in a person or in a society; rootlessness

Origin: Fr < Gr anomia, lawlessness < a-, without + nomos, law: see -nomy

Related Forms:

See anomie in American Heritage Dictionary 4

or an·o·my

noun

Social instability caused by erosion of standards and values.
Alienation and purposelessness experienced by a person or a class as a result of a lack of standards, values, or ideals: “We must now brace ourselves for disquisitions on peer pressure, adolescent anomie and rage” (Charles Krauthammer).

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: , from Greek anomiā, lawlessness

Origin: , from anomos, lawless

Origin: : a-, without; see a-¹

Origin: + nomos, law; see nem- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: