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

Yoon has vowed to keep defending himself, signaling his intent to fight in court to stay in office and insisting that his martial law decree was within his constitutional powers. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Asia, 30 Dec. 2024

The incident came as South Korea is embroiled in a huge political crisis triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment. —Kim Tong-Hyung, New York Daily News, 29 Dec. 2024

The country’s parliament on Dec. 27 voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo, not long after Yoon got impeached as a result of his brief martial law decree, which plunged the country into political turmoil. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 29 Dec. 2024

The reports said Kim, a close associate of Yoon, became the first person to be formally charged over the martial law decree. —Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 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