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

Large public gatherings have been prohibited in Ukraine and curfews remain in place under the martial law measures intended to protect civilian life. —Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026

Sandoval, again taking leading-lady duties, plays Dahlia, a cop reporting to Bernal (Dennis Marasigan), a shady police chief with friends in both high and low places in Manila, a city still under martial law in 1979. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026

The consequences of elite entrenchment and constitutional manipulation have reemerged, even without martial law. —Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026

But after a six-month probe into Yoon's decree, investigators led by another independent counsel, Cho Eun-suk, in December downplayed conjecture that Kim's troubles drove Yoon to declare martial law. —Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026

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