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

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

President Prabowo Subianto has refused calls to declare a national disaster to release emergency funds, and declined international assistance, describing the situation as "under control".

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

President Cyril Ramaphosa's designation of the outbreak as a national disaster allows the government to release extra funds and speed up the acquisition of vaccines from abroad.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

The current situation in South Africa has now been declared a national disaster.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

He approaches the King with proposals containing in them the seeds of national disaster without consulting us, or in defiance of our advice.

From Greece and the Allies 1914-1922 by Abbott, G. F. (George Frederick)