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
Chief prosecutor Edward Robert Campbell has told The Associated Press that terrorism charges carry a possible sentence of up to 30 years in prison or even the death penalty, although Cuba has maintained a moratorium on the latter since 2003.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
Muenz reiterated that the moratorium idea would only be for certain land uses the city feels are not appropriate, not all buildings, and could be made to only apply to a specific portion of Route 64.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
The ordinance echoes a similar five-year moratorium imposed by the Kansas City Council shortly after reports emerged that ICE was eyeing a south Kansas City warehouse for a possible 7,500-bed detention center.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Projects with requests on hold will not get final approval until additional sewer capacity is secured and the moratorium is lifted, DPW said.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
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Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
Muenz reiterated that the moratorium idea would only be for certain land uses the city feels are not appropriate, not all buildings, and could be made to only apply to a specific portion of Route 64.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
The ordinance echoes a similar five-year moratorium imposed by the Kansas City Council shortly after reports emerged that ICE was eyeing a south Kansas City warehouse for a possible 7,500-bed detention center.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Projects with requests on hold will not get final approval until additional sewer capacity is secured and the moratorium is lifted, DPW said.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
Cite this Entry
“Moratorium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moratorium. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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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