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

In July, The National Assembly revised the law with stricter requirements for declaring martial law and stronger protections of the parliament. —NPR, 3 Dec. 2025

But within three hours, the martial law order was overturned after 190 of the 300 National Assembly lawmakers — including Lee — managed to gather in the chamber and unanimously overturned the decree. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2025

The National Guard was brought in, imposing martial law and helping to round up and imprison Black people. —Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 24 Nov. 2025

They have been suspended under the martial law since Russia fully invaded. —Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for martial law

• allantois
• baccarat
• chickasaw
• mackinaw
• overawe
• oversaw
• quebecois
• yojana
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw

Kids Definition

martial law

noun

: the law applied by military forces in occupied territory or in an emergency

Legal Definition

martial law

noun

mar·​tial law

ˈmär-shəl-

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 civilian law enforcement agencies are unable to maintain public order and safety compare military law