anomy
- noun
- /ˈænəmi/
- Specialized
:
anomia
- These images thus have no discernible politics: it remains constantly unclear which ideological system produces which shards, which anomies, which dysfunctions in unity.
Examples
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In times of social upheaval, many people experience a sense of anomy, feeling lost without clear moral guidance.
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Now this is speaks to the AIDS question, anomie and alienation.
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To come to grips with the unbelief that underlies the condition of anomy, we must find a way to re-establish confidence in the validity of public standards.
Academic text (2001) -
The rapid changes in society led to anomy, leaving individuals feeling disconnected and uncertain about their values.
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The rise of anomy in urban areas highlights the need for stronger community bonds and clearer social norms.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A feeling of being alone and worried when social rules break down
Antonyms
How Stable
Surface Forms
Morphology
anomy = a + nomy
Formally analyzable as a- (not) + the combining form -nomy (law/custom), but '-nomy' is a bound combining form rather than a standalone English word, so learners cannot reliably infer the exact meaning from the parts alone.
Etymology
The word anomy comes from Greek parts a- meaning 'without' and nomos meaning 'law' or 'custom', like in autonomy where the 'nomy' part means 'rule'. So, anomy is a situation of 'no shared rules', which is why it describes social instability and people feeling isolated.