Law of Jante

/ˈjæntə/

proper noun

A social code in Scandinavian countries that opposes individualism, ambition, and vanity.

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Meanings

proper nounthe Law of Jante
  1. A social code in Scandinavian countries that opposes individualism, ambition, and vanity.

Origin

Introduced by the Dano-Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose in the 1933 novel A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks (En flyktning krysser sitt spor), in which Jante is a small Danish town where nobody is anonymous.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Danish janteloven
  • jantelovenLaw of Jante
Finnish Janten laki
  • Janten lakiLaw of Jante
Norwegian Bokmål jantelov
  • jantelovLaw of Jante
Polish prawo Jante
  • prawo JanteLaw of Jante
Swedish jantelagen, jante
  • jantelagenLaw of Jante
  • janteLaw of Jante
Cite this entry
APA

Law of Jante. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Law%20of%20Jante

MLA

“Law of Jante.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Law%20of%20Jante. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Law of Jante,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Law%20of%20Jante.

Source: Law of Jante on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.