martial law
noun
1
: the law applied in occupied territory by the military authority of the occupying power
2
: the law administered by military forces that is invoked by a government in an emergency when the civilian law enforcement agencies are unable to maintain public order and safety
Examples of martial law in a Sentence
The government has imposed martial law throughout the city to stop the riots.
an area placed under martial law
Recent Examples on the Web
On Wednesday, Ukraine’s Parliament voted to extend martial law and the draft for an additional 90 days.
—
Lauren Kent, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024
The trial would take place under martial law, freshly imposed by Reza.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
These efforts have mostly failed: the elections took place, Putin’s imposition of martial law was only partial, and the borders remain open.
—Tatiana Stanovaya, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2023
The dictatorship in Poland, under pressure from Moscow, had just imposed martial law.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for martial law 
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Lauren Kent, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024
The trial would take place under martial law, freshly imposed by Reza.
—Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024
These efforts have mostly failed: the elections took place, Putin’s imposition of martial law was only partial, and the borders remain open.
—Tatiana Stanovaya, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2023
The dictatorship in Poland, under pressure from Moscow, had just imposed martial law.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for martial law
Dictionary Entries Near martial law
Cite this Entry
“Martial law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martial%20law. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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