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
The next year came the Thrilla in Manila, Ali vs. Joe Frazier in the Philippines, hosted by President Ferdinand Marcos, who had declared martial law a few years before.
—
Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 May 2025
Yoon, who was impeached for declaring martial law in December, was removed from office last month, triggering a snap election that will be held June 3.
—Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
Lee, the candidate of the liberal Democratic Party that controls parliament, leads opinion polls to win a snap presidential election set off by the ouster of conservative former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his imposition of martial law.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 May 2025
There’s no real climax to this episode, necessarily; most of the craziness happens in the middle, and the final act is more about establishing the dark new reality for people living under martial law in Fisk’s New York.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025
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Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 May 2025
Yoon, who was impeached for declaring martial law in December, was removed from office last month, triggering a snap election that will be held June 3.
—Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
Lee, the candidate of the liberal Democratic Party that controls parliament, leads opinion polls to win a snap presidential election set off by the ouster of conservative former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his imposition of martial law.
—Reuters, NBC news, 1 May 2025
There’s no real climax to this episode, necessarily; most of the craziness happens in the middle, and the final act is more about establishing the dark new reality for people living under martial law in Fisk’s New York.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 16 Apr. 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 22 May. 2025.
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