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lawless territory
[ˈlɔːləs ˈterətɔːri]
noun phrase
pl: lawless territories
território sem lei
1.
An area or region where law and order are not enforced or do not exist; a place where people act without legal constraints or governmental control
The remote mountain region became a lawless territory where criminal gangs operated freely.
A região montanhosa remota tornou-se um território sem lei onde gangues criminosas operavam livremente.
2.
A place characterized by the absence of legal authority and the prevalence of violence or chaos
During the collapse of the government, several cities turned into lawless territories.
Durante o colapso do governo, várias cidades se tornaram territórios sem lei.
NYC Slang
lawless zone / badlands
Synonyms
ungoverned territory
anarchic region
no-man's land
wild west
frontier region
Antonyms
civilized region
well-governed territory
law-abiding area
orderly jurisdiction
Regional Variations
General Brazilian
território sem lei
Standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
favela desgovernada
Often used to describe specific urban areas without effective law enforcement
São Paulo
zona de risco
Common term for dangerous, uncontrolled urban areas
Portugal
território sem lei
Standard usage, also 'região anárquica'
Related Idioms & Phrases
the wild west
no-man's land
the law of the jungle
beyond the pale of civilization
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