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
Instead, his attorney general issued a moratorium early in his term, and last year, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 federal death row inmates.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025
More than 30 countries, including Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom, have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining until more is known about its impacts.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Thirty-two countries have called for a moratorium on the practice, and Bell hopes the study shows the need for further research before countries begin extractive—and potentially irreparable—mining practices in the deep sea.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 7 May 2025
The moratorium was lifted in December 2017 following the development of a framework to guide decisions about federal funding for this type of research.
—Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
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.
Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025
More than 30 countries, including Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom, have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining until more is known about its impacts.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Thirty-two countries have called for a moratorium on the practice, and Bell hopes the study shows the need for further research before countries begin extractive—and potentially irreparable—mining practices in the deep sea.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 7 May 2025
The moratorium was lifted in December 2017 following the development of a framework to guide decisions about federal funding for this type of research.
—Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 5 May 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 25 May. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share