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
Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have demanded a federal moratorium on data-center construction until the industry is reined in.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
The moratorium from the Idaho Department of Water Resources seeks to address water table questions in Southwest Idaho, affecting applications to irrigate some 7,000 acres of farmland.
—Noah Daly
may 7, Idaho Statesman, 7 May 2026
Hood County residents have tried unsuccessfully to get a temporary moratorium on data centers using an obscure state law that’s specific to Hood County.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
With the influx of bot deliveries, Glendale's mayor, Ardy Hassakhian, is pushing for a moratorium until service operations and impacts are better understood.
—Jasmine Viel, CBS News, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
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Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
The moratorium from the Idaho Department of Water Resources seeks to address water table questions in Southwest Idaho, affecting applications to irrigate some 7,000 acres of farmland.
—Noah Daly
may 7, Idaho Statesman, 7 May 2026
Hood County residents have tried unsuccessfully to get a temporary moratorium on data centers using an obscure state law that’s specific to Hood County.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
With the influx of bot deliveries, Glendale's mayor, Ardy Hassakhian, is pushing for a moratorium until service operations and impacts are better understood.
—Jasmine Viel, CBS News, 6 May 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 9 May. 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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