phrase
A situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures in order to regain control.
‘the government has declared a state of emergency’
- ‘Currently, the country is under a national state of emergency.’
- ‘Mr Neptune declared a national state of emergency on Wednesday in part because of the continuing clashes.’
- ‘It was only a matter of time before they called for a national state of emergency to be imposed and the troops to be sent in to the countryside.’
- ‘Chavez said he would only consider declaring a state of emergency if the situation required such a measure.’
- ‘El Salvador President Francisco Flores declared a national state of emergency.’
- ‘In a nationwide state of emergency, the security police seemed to be everywhere.’
- ‘By February 8 the situation had escalated further with the declaration of a state of emergency.’
- ‘It gave support to the government's initial state of emergency, declared for a twelve-day period.’
- ‘Algeria has been in a declared state of emergency since 1992, therefore the wartime scales are liable to apply.’
- ‘The president could also declare a state of emergency and rule by emergency decree.’