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
Synonyms
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
State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has ordered a one-year moratorium on home insurance policy cancellations in ZIP codes near or within the areas affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires.
—Lia Russell, Sacramento Bee, 11 Jan. 2025
On Friday, Ricardo Lara, California’s insurance commissioner, vowed that the state would impose a one-year moratorium to prevent homeowners insurance cancellations and non-renewals in the fire-scarred areas.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 11 Jan. 2025
Budget pressures from the Mars Sample Return mission, coupled with funding cuts stemming from a bipartisan federal budget deal in 2023, have prompted NASA's planetary science division to institute a moratorium on starting new missions.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 8 Jan. 2025
In 2008, President George W. Bush issued a memorandum that rescinded portions of the offshore drilling moratorium established by his father, President George H. W. Bush, in 1990 and renewed by President Bill Clinton in 1998.
—James Broughel, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for moratorium 
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Lia Russell, Sacramento Bee, 11 Jan. 2025
On Friday, Ricardo Lara, California’s insurance commissioner, vowed that the state would impose a one-year moratorium to prevent homeowners insurance cancellations and non-renewals in the fire-scarred areas.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 11 Jan. 2025
Budget pressures from the Mars Sample Return mission, coupled with funding cuts stemming from a bipartisan federal budget deal in 2023, have prompted NASA's planetary science division to institute a moratorium on starting new missions.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 8 Jan. 2025
In 2008, President George W. Bush issued a memorandum that rescinded portions of the offshore drilling moratorium established by his father, President George H. W. Bush, in 1990 and renewed by President Bill Clinton in 1998.
—James Broughel, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for moratorium
Dictionary Entries Near moratorium
Cite this Entry
“Moratorium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moratorium. Accessed 15 Jan. 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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