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
Despite the list of 60 companies and 30 countries already agreeing to a moratorium, the deep seabed mining industry could get support from the Trump administration.
—Jennifer Kite-Powell, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
He had been expected to resume federal executions after returning to office, which have been on hold since Garland imposed a moratorium in 2021.
—Katherine Fung, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
That increases to a full guarantee if Miami doesn’t waive him on or before two days after the end of the early July moratorium period or if Miami wins an NBA championship this season and Robinson achieves certain minutes and games played thresholds.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
On Tuesday Avila, Pagani and Trent Lockett, co-owner of events company Nya Studios, met with District 4 City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a proponent of pandemic-era dining programs such as L.A. Al Fresco and moratoriums on ticketing unpermitted street vendors.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
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Jennifer Kite-Powell, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
He had been expected to resume federal executions after returning to office, which have been on hold since Garland imposed a moratorium in 2021.
—Katherine Fung, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
That increases to a full guarantee if Miami doesn’t waive him on or before two days after the end of the early July moratorium period or if Miami wins an NBA championship this season and Robinson achieves certain minutes and games played thresholds.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2025
On Tuesday Avila, Pagani and Trent Lockett, co-owner of events company Nya Studios, met with District 4 City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a proponent of pandemic-era dining programs such as L.A. Al Fresco and moratoriums on ticketing unpermitted street vendors.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
Cite this Entry
“Moratorium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moratorium. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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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