hiatus

American  

[hahy-ey-tuhs] / haɪˈeɪ təs /

noun

plural

hiatuses, hiatus

1. a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.

2. a missing part; gap or lacuna.

   Scholars attempted to account for the hiatus in the medieval manuscript.

3. any gap or opening.

   Synonyms:

   space, interval, break

4. Grammar, Prosody. the coming together, with or without break or slight pause, and without contraction, of two vowels in successive words or syllables, as in see easily.

5. Anatomy. a natural fissure, cleft, or foramen in a bone or other structure.

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hiatus British  

/ haɪˈeɪtəs /

noun

1. (esp in manuscripts) a break or gap where something is missing

2. a break or interruption in continuity

3. a break between adjacent vowels in the pronunciation of a word

4. anatomy a natural opening or aperture; foramen

5. anatomy a less common word for vulva

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Other Word Forms

• hiatal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hiatus

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin hiātus “opening, gap,” equivalent to hiā(re) “to gape, open” + -tus, noun suffix

Explanation

A temporary gap, pause, break, or absence can be called a hiatus. When your favorite TV show is on hiatus, that means there are no new episodes — not forever, just for a little while. Even things that go on for a long time take a break once in a while: one kind of break is a hiatus. If someone has to leave her job for a time, she's going on hiatus. A touring band will need to take a hiatus if the lead singer gets in an accident. The key thing about a hiatus is that it's an interruption of something that was happening, but it's not a permanent break.

Example Sentences

As Hiatus Kaiyote wrapped on Friday, onetime Seattleite Father John Misty settled into the most commanding local performance he’s given in years on the other end of the expansive but manageable grounds.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 28, 2022

Hiatus Kaiyote has defined its genre of music as “future soul.”

From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2022

Hiatus says you’re not part of the program anymore.

From Fox News • Feb. 8, 2022

Before Hiatus Kaiyote earned praise from some of neo-soul and hip-hop’s big names, it was a local group in Melbourne developing its hybrid sound organically.

From New York Times • Jun. 27, 2021

There is a young fellow, a contortionist and sword-swallower, known locally in these parts as Humphrey the Human Hiatus, who travels from village to village.

From Second Plays by Milne, A. A. (Alan Alexander)

Related Words

• interval
• lapse