state of emergency
A "state of emergency" allows governments to enact extraordinary measures during critical situations to maintain public safety and order.
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Definition
B2Government
(formal, legal)A situation where the government enacts special powers to manage a crisis or threat.
Example
- The president declared a state of emergency to address the widespread flooding.
- During the state of emergency, certain civil liberties may be temporarily suspended.
C1Law
(formal, legal)An official declaration that temporarily grants the government enhanced powers to handle a significant threat to public safety or order.
Example
- The state of emergency allowed the government to allocate resources more efficiently.
- Under the state of emergency, the curfew was enforced to ensure public safety.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "state of emergency":