national disaster

American  

[nash-uhn-uhl-di-zas-ter] / ˈnæʃ ən əl dɪˈzæs tər /

noun

national disasters plural

1. a disaster, especially a natural disaster, such as a flood, hurricane, or earthquake, that affects a large portion of a nation or requires the resources and powers of a national government to address it.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• national disasters
  plural

Example Sentences

These numbers still need to be verified by the national disaster agency.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia has risen to 593, according to a tally published Monday by the national disaster agency.

From Barron's • Dec. 1, 2025

The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Indonesia has risen to 442, according to a tally published by the national disaster agency on Sunday.

From Barron's • Nov. 30, 2025

The Philippines is composed of thousands of islands and the national disaster agency based in the capital Manila is tasked with releasing official casualty figures for typhoons and earthquakes.

From BBC • Oct. 1, 2025

In a mournful and foreboding voice, thoroughly appropriate to an hour of national disaster, Mr. Sopley thanked Lady Knob-Kerrick for her words, and the others for their notes.

From Adventures of Bindle by Jenkins, Herbert George