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

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

martial law

noun

: the law applied by military forces in occupied territory or in an emergency

Legal Definition

martial law

noun

mar·​tial law

ˈmär-shəl-

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 civilian law enforcement agencies are unable to maintain public order and safety compare military law