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

Example Sentences

During her hiatus from “Today,” Guthrie made a series of videos sharing the raw emotions she experienced since Nancy Guthrie was abducted while pleading for her return.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

BTS – comprising members RM, Jin, Saga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook – took a collective hiatus in 2022 for each of them to participate in South Korean mandatory military service.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Before their hiatus, they regularly ranked alongside Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber on Spotify.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

Be it hiatus or retirement, they would remain legendary, according to Lim: "Like the Beatles."

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

The detailed reasons for the hiatus are outside the scope of this book.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

• interval
• lapse