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

In Michigan this week, Republican Senate Candidate Mike Rogers backtracked, coming out in support of a one-year moratorium on new data centers. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Baltimore City passed a six-month moratorium in May, Harford County passed an indefinite ban in June, and Prince George’s and Montgomery counties both passed moratoriums in July. — Jorge Aguilar, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026

Michigan‘s Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers backed the prospect of a data center moratorium in the Wolverine State, becoming the latest GOP politician to criticize the rapid spread of AI infrastructure ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026

Earlier this year, Avon Township and Round Lake Park both officially voiced their opposition to the development after public pressure, and Lake County is moving towards an 8-month moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Lake County. — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 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