state of emergency

American  

[stayt uhv i-mur-juhn-see] / ˈsteɪt əv ɪˈmɜr dʒən si /

noun

1. a situation of urgent need for help and relief, brought about by a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other crisis, especially as declared by a governor, president, mayor, or other official.

   As devastation from last night’s tornadoes continues to be assessed, the governor has declared a state of emergency in the three worst-hit counties.

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Etymology

Origin of state of emergency

First recorded in 1955–60

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

state of emergency

"They told us it was because of the state of emergency," she said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026

Short of solving one problem, some have warned this state of emergency could lead to more challenges.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Gov. Gavin Newsom last month declared a state of emergency, saying he wanted to mobilize state resources to “prepare for El Niño’s anticipated impacts, like strong storms and coastal flooding.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to prepare for a storm season of “historic strength,” stoking volatility in gasoline prices amid speculation about potential supply disruption.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

The storm was impressive, overwhelming snow-clearance efforts; the mayor had declared a state of emergency.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

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