state of emergency: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, official, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “state of emergency” mean?
A temporary period of abnormal governance invoked by a government during a crisis, granting exceptional powers to authorities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A temporary period of abnormal governance invoked by a government during a crisis, granting exceptional powers to authorities.
A situation declared by authorities due to a major disaster, threat, or civil unrest, allowing for the suspension of normal legal and administrative procedures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and usage are identical. In the UK, declarations are typically made by the government under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. In the US, declarations are made at federal, state, or local levels.
Connotations
Identical connotations of crisis, threat, and expanded executive authority.
Frequency
Similar frequency in formal news and political discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “state of emergency” in a Sentence
The government declared a state of emergency.The country is under a state of emergency.The state of emergency was lifted after three months.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “state of emergency” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Home Secretary announced a state of emergency following the widespread flooding.
- The state of emergency grants police additional stop-and-search powers.
American English
- The governor declared a state of emergency due to the wildfire outbreak.
- A federal state of emergency unlocks FEMA funding.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of supply chain or operational disruption due to government declaration.
Academic
Used in political science, law, and disaster studies to analyse executive power and crisis response.
Everyday
Used when discussing major news events like natural disasters or civil unrest.
Technical
A legal term with specific criteria and procedures for declaration and termination.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “state of emergency”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “state of emergency”
- Using it to describe a personal crisis (e.g., 'I have a state of emergency at work').
- Omitting 'of' (e.g., 'state emergency').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It varies by country. Typically, it is declared by the head of government (e.g., Prime Minister, President) or a relevant minister (e.g., Home Secretary) under specific laws.
Not necessarily. A state of emergency grants special powers but often within a civilian framework. Martial law is a more extreme version where the military takes over direct administration of justice or governance.
It is meant to be temporary. The duration is usually defined by law and often requires periodic review and extension by the legislature.
A 'state of emergency' is a broader legal/political tool that can be used for various crises (political, security, disaster). A 'disaster declaration' (common in the US) is more specific, often focusing on unlocking financial aid and logistical support for natural disasters.
A temporary period of abnormal governance invoked by a government during a crisis, granting exceptional powers to authorities.
State of emergency is usually formal, official, journalistic in register.
State of emergency: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪt əv ɪˈmɜː.dʒən.si/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪt əv ɪˈmɝː.dʒən.si/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be in a state of emergency (literal, not idiomatic)”
- “all hands on deck (similar sense of crisis)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'STATE' as the government and 'EMERGENCY' as the crisis. The government officially names the crisis to get special powers.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNANCE IS A MACHINE; a state of emergency is putting that machine into an overdrive/safety mode.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of declaring a 'state of emergency'?