hiatus

American  

[hahy-ey-tuhs] / haɪˈeɪ təs /

noun

• hiatuses,
  plural
• hiatus
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• hiatal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hiatus
  plural
• hiatuses
  plural

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

See Examples For:

hiatus hiatuses

During that hiatus, North Korea proceeded with its nuclear and missile programs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

After an extended hiatus from acting, Panettiere was returning to work and primed for an even bigger comeback.

From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026

The band is currently on its first world tour in years, marking the reunion of all seven members since they went on a hiatus for mandatory military service.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

During his hiatus from Disney in 2021-22, Iger expressed interest in leading a purchase of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

After their big win in their first game back after Luma’s enforced hiatus, the Fifteens had lost 4-1 to a middle-of-the-pack team.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

These micro-retreats have proven so energizing that I now take a few each year—and science suggests such hiatuses, despite their brief duration, can renew enthusiasm and relieve mental exhaustion in potent ways.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

Both bands have been around since the early noughties and have had their fair share of break-ups, reunions, hiatuses and comebacks over the years.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2024

Prior to her official exit, the “Firefly Lane” star had taken multiple highly publicized hiatuses from the series as rumors of a rift between her and the producers began to surface.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2023

Bands that had been waiting to release new albums until they could realistically envision touring them are now tentatively re-emerging from extended hiatuses.

From New York Times ● Sep. 17, 2021

It is small, but well filled, and undoubtedly contains some ancient and curious volumes: but several hiatuses gave indication that there had been a few transportations to Vienna or Munich.

From A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three by Thomas Frognall Dibdin

Related Words

• interval
• lapse