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 See More
Recent Examples on the Web The moratorium on student loan payments lifted Oct. 1. Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2023 But in 1992 President George H. W. Bush announced a moratorium on nuclear testing. Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 14 Nov. 2023 Daniel said a moratorium sets off red flags when trying to secure financing for a project. Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023 Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, a professor at the American University Washington College of Law who testified at that hearing, told me that opponents of the technology had pushed for a moratorium even though there clearly wasn’t sufficient support. Eyal Press, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023 In May, OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman penned a short letter alongside hundreds of other experts warning of the dangers of AI. Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak were among 1,100 people who in March signed an open letter calling on a moratorium on the development of advanced AI systems. Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2023 The Israeli government announced a new housing project in East Jerusalem in 2010 while Mr. Biden was in Israel, embarrassing the American administration, which had pushed for a moratorium. Peter Baker, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2023 One of the main reasons for the moratorium was to reduce air pollution from the idling vehicles. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2023 In the late 1990s concern over these viruses infecting transplant recipients prompted calls for a moratorium on xenotransplantation, but ultimately the FDA allowed research to resume. Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'moratorium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near moratorium

Cite this Entry

“Moratorium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moratorium. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

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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