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

Investigators say Kim was not involved in Yoon's martial law enforcement. —Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026

Yoon is on trial for insurrection over his brief declaration of martial law in 2024, as well as a number of other allegations. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 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. —Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026

The decree banned all political activities and public assemblies, with martial law troops moving to seize control of the National Assembly. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 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