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
Speaking to reporters, Packard suggested that the death of an American in Persia was a political maneuver planned as an excuse to declare martial law.
—
Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
The junta had just seized power in a coup d’etat and declared martial law when Byung-moon was ordered to count the number of bodies in a minibus after a brigade opened fire on it.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2024
But from the very beginning, this vision was never fulfilled—after all, for nearly two decades after the signing of the declaration, Palestinians in Israel lived under martial law.
—Ilan Z. Baron, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2024
In August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the state’s longstanding self-determination rights and temporarily imposed martial law.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for martial law 
Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
The junta had just seized power in a coup d’etat and declared martial law when Byung-moon was ordered to count the number of bodies in a minibus after a brigade opened fire on it.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2024
But from the very beginning, this vision was never fulfilled—after all, for nearly two decades after the signing of the declaration, Palestinians in Israel lived under martial law.
—Ilan Z. Baron, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2024
In August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the state’s longstanding self-determination rights and temporarily imposed martial law.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for martial law
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'martial law.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Martial law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martial%20law. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.
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