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.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• national disasters
  plural

Example Sentences

Indonesia's national disaster agency, meanwhile, instructed officials in the North Sulawesi capital, Manado, northern Gorontalo province and the Sangihe islands "to immediately direct their residents to evacuate in an orderly manner to higher ground".

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Mozambique has declared a red alert in the wake of the devastating floods while South Africa has announced a national disaster.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 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 national disaster agency said more than 400,000 people had been displaced by the disaster in Cebu, home to 2.5 million people.

From BBC • Nov. 5, 2025

Everywhere in France except in the official world of Paris, the once enchanted name of Napoleon had become recognized as a synonym of national disaster.

From The Invasion of France in 1814 by Chatrian, Alexandre