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

Synonyms of moratorium

• suspension
• suspense

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

Groton, West Haven, and Morris have instituted moratoriums on data center construction in their communities. — Anna Zarra Aldrich, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026

Ahead of Thursday’s school board meeting, a group of community leaders rallied outside CPS headquarters, demanding that the district extend its school closure moratorium indefinitely. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

On Thursday, county commissioners gave unanimous final approval for a yearlong moratorium that prohibits the county from accepting, processing or approving any large-scale data center applications. — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

Wade sued Swift for trademark infringement in March and asked for an emergency moratorium on merchandise sales while the case plays out. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for moratorium

• emporium
• scriptorium
• tentorium
• triforium
• auditorium
• cladosporium
• crematorium
• eupatorium
• sanatorium
• conservatorium
• helminthosporium
• corium

Kids 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