moratorium

American  

[mawr-uh-tawr-ee-uhm, -tohr-, mor-] / ˌmɔr əˈtɔr i əm, -ˈtoʊr-, ˌmɒr- /

noun

plural

moratoria, moratoriums

1. a suspension of activity.

   a moratorium on the testing of nuclear weapons.

2. a legally authorized period to delay payment of money due or the performance of some other legal obligation, as in an emergency.

3. an authorized period of delay or waiting.

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moratorium British  

/ -trɪ, ˈmɒrətərɪ, ˌmɒrəˈtɔːrɪəm /

noun

1. a legally authorized postponement of the fulfilment of an obligation

2. an agreed suspension of activity

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moratorium Cultural  

1. A period of delay agreed to by parties to a dispute or parties who are negotiating. A moratorium may also be an authorized delay in the repayment of a loan, especially by a nation (as in a moratorium on war debts).

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Usage

What does moratorium mean? A moratorium is most commonly an official suspension or delay of some activity. Moratorium often specifically refers to the postponement of the requirement to make some kind of payment, such as rent.Such moratoriums are often enacted during emergencies or other unusual circumstances in order to provide relief to people who have lost their usual source of income. Another kind of moratorium is imposed by governments or international bodies on particular activities, such as nuclear testing or offshore drilling.Moratoriums are often temporary. They can be scheduled to end after a specified period of time, or they can be indefinite, meaning the end date will be decided later.Moratorium is also used casually (often as part of a joke) to mean an informal ban on something that you want to stop, as in I think it’s time to put a moratorium on watching TV for a while, kids. The correct plural of moratorium can be either moratoriums or moratoria. Technically speaking, moratoria is the Latin-based plural form of moratorium. (Many other Latin-derived words can be pluralized in the same way, but many are rarely used, such as stadia as the plural for stadium.)Example: Due to the pandemic, some local governments have placed a moratorium on utility payments since so many people are out of work and won’t be able to pay their bills.

Other Word Forms

• moratory adjective

Etymology

Origin of moratorium

1870–75; < New Latin, Late Latin morātōrium, noun use of neuter of morātōrius moratory

Example Sentences

However, the state did adopt a moratorium on issuing new hospice licenses, which came after a Los Angeles Times investigation and a state audit.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

The United States, supported by several countries including Japan, Mexico, Australia, Norway and Switzerland, wants to make the moratorium permanent.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Almost immediately, the council passed a one-year moratorium to stop it, which was subsequently vetoed by the mayor.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

The long tenure of the share moratorium and service agreement tied to one of the deals could help Q&M to scale up a new franchise and platform, the head of research adds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

The three-year test moratorium had been a difficult period for Livermore, now under the leadership of Edward Teller.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• ban
• delay
• freeze
• halt
• pause
• postponement
• reprieve
• truce