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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

national disaster

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

These numbers still need to be verified by the national disaster agency.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

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

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

It took nothing short of a national disaster seriously to disturb his equanimity; therefore at sight of his face the colonel was almost instantly on his feet.

From Lanier of the Cavalry or, A Week's Arrest by Charles King