martial law
Americannoun
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the law temporarily imposed upon an area by state or national military forces when civil authority has broken down or during wartime military operations.
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the law imposed upon a defeated country or occupied territory by the military forces of the occupying power.
noun
Usage
What is martial law? Martial law is when a state is put under control of the military, usually temporarily and as a result of an emergency or crisis that has broken down the usual civil authority and order. How is martial law pronounced?[ mahr-shuhl law ]
Etymology
Origin of martial law
First recorded in 1525–35
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He took power after months of political upheaval triggered by his predecessor's declaration of martial law.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
They swept to victory last June, after the disgraced former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was impeached for a bizarre six-hour attempt to declare martial law.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
The appeals court also upheld his conviction for abuse of power for excluding cabinet members from a meeting to plan the imposition of martial law.
From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026
On 4 December, 2024, Yoon announced to the nation that he was declaring martial law – plunging South Korea into chaos and setting in motion a series of events that would precipitate his downfall.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026
“They’ve declared martial law all over the city,” he said, wide-eyed with fear.
From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
