martial law
noun
1
: the law applied in occupied territory by the military authority of the occupying power
2
: the law administered by military forces that is invoked by a government in an emergency when the civilian law enforcement agencies are unable to maintain public order and safety
Examples of martial law in a Sentence
The government has imposed martial law throughout the city to stop the riots.
an area placed under martial law
Recent Examples on the Web
Violence was so prevalent that, in 1871, Grant invoked martial law in South Carolina.
—
Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
When then- President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law imposition in late 2024 triggered the most severe crisis for the country’s democracy in decades, protesters gathered in the square, calling for his ouster.
—ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026
In Ukraine, a country under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion four years ago, there are strict rules about reporting a withdrawal by Ukrainian troops, for instance, or details of any significant movement of armor or weapons towards the front-line.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
After Trump called for a presidential election in Ukraine, Zelensky signaled readiness for it even though it’s banned under martial law.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for martial law
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Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
When then- President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law imposition in late 2024 triggered the most severe crisis for the country’s democracy in decades, protesters gathered in the square, calling for his ouster.
—ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026
In Ukraine, a country under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion four years ago, there are strict rules about reporting a withdrawal by Ukrainian troops, for instance, or details of any significant movement of armor or weapons towards the front-line.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
After Trump called for a presidential election in Ukraine, Zelensky signaled readiness for it even though it’s banned under martial law.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for martial law
Cite this Entry
“Martial law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martial%20law. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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