moratorium
noun
mor·a·to·ri·um
ˌmȯr-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əm 
ˌmär-
plural moratoriums or moratoria
ˌmȯr-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-ə
ˌmär-
1
a
: a legally authorized period of delay in the performance of a legal obligation or the payment of a debt
b
: a waiting period set by an authority
2
: a suspension of activity
Examples of moratorium in a Sentence
In 2000, Illinois declared a moratorium on executions after 13 death-row inmates were exonerated.
—
Evan Thomas et al., Newsweek, 19 Nov. 2007
But one country's moratorium is another country's protectionism, and the U.S. is suspicious of Europe's actions.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 13 Sept. 1999
The striped bass are recovering strongly after a moratorium on catching them.
—John P. Wiley, Jr., Smithsonian, November 1993
Her office was crammed with ungraded school papers, some of them dating back five years. She was far behind in her work—so far behind that she had declared a moratorium on school work until she could catch up on her grading.
—Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., The Sirens of Titan, 1959
The treaty calls for a nuclear testing moratorium.
the director of the blood bank called for a moratorium in donations until the surplus could be used up
Evan Thomas et al., Newsweek, 19 Nov. 2007
But one country's moratorium is another country's protectionism, and the U.S. is suspicious of Europe's actions.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 13 Sept. 1999
The striped bass are recovering strongly after a moratorium on catching them.
—John P. Wiley, Jr., Smithsonian, November 1993
Her office was crammed with ungraded school papers, some of them dating back five years. She was far behind in her work—so far behind that she had declared a moratorium on school work until she could catch up on her grading.
—Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., The Sirens of Titan, 1959
The treaty calls for a nuclear testing moratorium.
the director of the blood bank called for a moratorium in donations until the surplus could be used up
Recent Examples on the Web
Our answer is an immigration moratorium.
—FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Let’s have a moratorium on mischief during whatever this period is.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Most countries have maintained a moratorium on nuclear testing since the late 1990s, shortly after the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted by the UN in 1996, aiming to create a permanent, legally binding global ban on all nuclear test explosions.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
The voluntary test moratorium has been in place since the end of the Cold War, as part of an effort to maintain nuclear stability.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
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FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Let’s have a moratorium on mischief during whatever this period is.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Most countries have maintained a moratorium on nuclear testing since the late 1990s, shortly after the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted by the UN in 1996, aiming to create a permanent, legally binding global ban on all nuclear test explosions.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
The voluntary test moratorium has been in place since the end of the Cold War, as part of an effort to maintain nuclear stability.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
Cite this Entry
“Moratorium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moratorium. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
moratorium
noun
mor·a·to·ri·um
ˌmȯr-ə-ˈtōr-ē-əm
ˌmär-,
-ˈtȯr-
plural moratoriums or moratoria
-ē-ə
1
: a legally approved period of delay in the payment of a debt or the performance of a duty
2
: ban entry 2 sense 2, suspension
a moratorium on atomic testing
Legal Definition
moratorium
noun
mor·a·to·ri·um
ˌmȯr-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əm
plural moratoriums; plural moratoria
1
a
: an authorized period of delay in the performance of an obligation (as the paying of a debt)
b
: a waiting period set by an authority
2
: a suspension of activity
Etymology
New Latin, from Late Latin, neuter of moratorius dilatory, from morari to delay, from mora delay
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