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
Jackson and Brown were among the 40 attorneys general who earlier this year successfully pushed for the removal of an AI regulation moratorium from Republicans’ sweeping tax and spending cuts package that could have blocked enforcement of state laws for a decade.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025
In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to persuade Russia to agree to a moratorium on airstrikes against energy infrastructure—to no avail.
—Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2025
Beijing and Moscow have intensified their nuclear weapons programs in recent years, but neither has confirmed violation of a testing moratorium.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
The 45-day moratorium approved by the City Council can be extended for up to two years.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
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Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025
In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to persuade Russia to agree to a moratorium on airstrikes against energy infrastructure—to no avail.
—Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2025
Beijing and Moscow have intensified their nuclear weapons programs in recent years, but neither has confirmed violation of a testing moratorium.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
The 45-day moratorium approved by the City Council can be extended for up to two years.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 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 24 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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