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
Experts say the court likely will sentence him to life or a lengthy imprisonment because South Korea has maintained a de-facto moratorium on executions since late 1997.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
Experts say the court likely will sentence him to life or a lengthy imprisonment because South Korea has maintained a de-facto moratorium on executions since late 1997.
—Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The double-digit rise in homelessness from 2022 to 2024 can be attributed to the end of COVID-era eviction moratoriums and emergency rental assistance programs, county officials said, which had kept many people housed during the pandemic.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Ireland was one of two European countries to enforce a moratorium on new data center applications as the power-hungry facilities strained Dublin’s grid, consuming 22% of the small country’s power in 2024.
—April Roach,tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
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Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
Experts say the court likely will sentence him to life or a lengthy imprisonment because South Korea has maintained a de-facto moratorium on executions since late 1997.
—Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The double-digit rise in homelessness from 2022 to 2024 can be attributed to the end of COVID-era eviction moratoriums and emergency rental assistance programs, county officials said, which had kept many people housed during the pandemic.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Ireland was one of two European countries to enforce a moratorium on new data center applications as the power-hungry facilities strained Dublin’s grid, consuming 22% of the small country’s power in 2024.
—April Roach,tasmin Lockwood, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
Cite this Entry
“Moratorium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moratorium. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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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