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

Noun Inflected Forms

• national disasters
  plural

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

national disaster

The new figures came as Indonesian officials rebuffed calls to declare the fires a national disaster and said the country was "still capable of handling the situation ourselves" after neighbouring Malaysia again offered assistance.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

Announcing the move last November, Minister of Social Development Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe said treating the issue as a national disaster would help the government tackle the crisis.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

So far, 1,344 bodies have been recovered in Nepal, according to the national disaster agency, with around 5,000 people missing.

From Barron's ● Sep. 5, 2026

Today, Cuesta believes worsening living conditions have led many Cubans to see Castro as the "original architect of this national disaster."

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Dr. Miles pointed out that tremors along the fault might trigger off a chain of quakes amounting to a national disaster.

From Tom Swift and The Visitor from Planet X by Victor [pseud.] Appleton

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