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
Idaho lawmakers in February held a hearing on its bill, which calls for a 10-year moratorium on mRNA vaccines.
—Stephanie Armour | Kff Health News, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2025
Warning that other Connecticut communities could face health and environmental hazards, Granby officials are calling for a statewide moratorium on large-scale battery energy storage farms.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2025
Trump also said levies on Canadian and Mexican imports would take hold after a 30-day moratorium ends next week.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Officials declared a 60-day moratorium that prevented mobile vending in the area, citing persistent issues related to the burning of trash, the dumping of grease into storm drains, unpermitted restrooms, unlawful street closures, and trucks parked in the same location for weeks at a time.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moratorium
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Stephanie Armour | Kff Health News, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2025
Warning that other Connecticut communities could face health and environmental hazards, Granby officials are calling for a statewide moratorium on large-scale battery energy storage farms.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2025
Trump also said levies on Canadian and Mexican imports would take hold after a 30-day moratorium ends next week.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Officials declared a 60-day moratorium that prevented mobile vending in the area, citing persistent issues related to the burning of trash, the dumping of grease into storm drains, unpermitted restrooms, unlawful street closures, and trucks parked in the same location for weeks at a time.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 28 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 25 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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