moratorium

noun

mor·​a·​to·​ri·​um ˌmȯr-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əm How to pronounce moratorium (audio)
ˌmär-
plural moratoriums or moratoria ˌmȯr-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-ə How to pronounce moratorium (audio)
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So when the moratorium was lifted, a wave of eviction notices followed. Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025 Humpback whales were once hunted nearly to extinction, but a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1985 allowed the species to make a comeback, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025 But unpaid bills can stack up and leave residents in deep trouble by the time the moratorium lifts, Rodriguez said. Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 9 Oct. 2025 Such an action would require a national moratorium on comparable AI models until the damage is contained and the risk mitigated. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moratorium

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Late Latin, neuter of moratorius dilatory, from Latin morari to delay, from mora delay

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of moratorium was in 1875

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moratorium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moratorium. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

moratorium

noun
mor·​a·​to·​ri·​um ˌmȯr-ə-ˈtōr-ē-əm How to pronounce moratorium (audio)
ˌmär-,
-ˈtȯr-
plural moratoriums or moratoria -ē-ə How to pronounce moratorium (audio)
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 How to pronounce moratorium (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on moratorium

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