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
Although a state of martial law continues, the main reason that Ukrainian society has mostly held together during the war is close cooperation among the government, private sector, civil society organizations, and citizens themselves.
—
Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
Her husband, Yoon, declared martial law in December, ostensibly as part of a nationwide campaign to root out North Korean sympathizers and anti-South Korean actors within the government.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2025
Yoon’s shock martial law order in December and its political fallout has coincided with a dramatic fall from grace for Kim, a wealthy businesswoman who was seen as an important driving force behind her husband’s rise to top office.
—CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
He was arrested and faces charges of insurrection over his martial law bid, which carries a maximum penalty of death.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for martial law
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Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
Her husband, Yoon, declared martial law in December, ostensibly as part of a nationwide campaign to root out North Korean sympathizers and anti-South Korean actors within the government.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2025
Yoon’s shock martial law order in December and its political fallout has coincided with a dramatic fall from grace for Kim, a wealthy businesswoman who was seen as an important driving force behind her husband’s rise to top office.
—CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
He was arrested and faces charges of insurrection over his martial law bid, which carries a maximum penalty of death.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
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 10 Sep. 2025.
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