national disaster

American  

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

noun

plural

national disasters

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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Example Sentences

But its endless expanses have been swept by panic since an outbreak of highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease, which was declared a national disaster in February.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 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

Centre for Environment Justice executive director Maggie Mapalo Mwape told the BBC the pollution was a national disaster that demands immediate and concrete action to mitigate its effects and prevent future occurrences.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2025

I always start with emotions, given our worsening national disaster.

From Salon • Aug. 2, 2025

Tlaloc was the god of rain—an important deity for a country where a droughty season was nothing less than a national disaster.

From The Mythologies of Ancient Mexico and Peru by Spence, Lewis