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
And the second is this discussion around moratoriums on building solar on public lands.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
Bondi also ended a moratorium on federal executions put in place by former President Joe Biden, who had ended federal executions during his presidency.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
In California, there’s currently a moratorium preventing insurance companies from dropping existing customers.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 5 Feb. 2025
Johor is at the epicenter of the data center boom in Southeast Asia after Singapore imposed a three-year moratorium on new data center projects due to renewable energy and land constraints.
—Jonathan Burgos, Forbes, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for moratorium 
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
Bondi also ended a moratorium on federal executions put in place by former President Joe Biden, who had ended federal executions during his presidency.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
In California, there’s currently a moratorium preventing insurance companies from dropping existing customers.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 5 Feb. 2025
Johor is at the epicenter of the data center boom in Southeast Asia after Singapore imposed a three-year moratorium on new data center projects due to renewable energy and land constraints.
—Jonathan Burgos, Forbes, 30 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 21 Feb. 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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