1. Plural of anarchy; states of disorder and confusion due to the absence of authority or control.
Usage: Most common sense; refers to social or political disorder.
2. Plural of anarchy; political systems or theories advocating the abolition of government and the organization of society on a voluntary, cooperative basis.
Usage: Political/philosophical sense; less common in everyday usage.

Examples

• The collapse of the government led to anarchies throughout the region.
• During the riots, the city descended into anarchies as police lost control.
• Some political theorists have studied various anarchies as alternatives to traditional governance.
• The power outage created temporary anarchies in the transportation system.
• Historical anarchies often resulted in violence and suffering for ordinary citizens.
• The book examines different anarchies that emerged after the empire fell.