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

Opposition parties and even some PPP members say the martial law decree was unconstitutional. —Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

His arrest marks the first formal detention tied to the martial law decree. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Kim was the first person formally arrested over the president's Dec. 3 martial law decree. —Landon Mion, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024

They are suspected of instructing police officers to block lawmakers at the National Assembly who were there to reverse the martial law decree. —Joohee Cho, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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