moratorium

noun

mor·​a·​to·​ri·​um ˌmȯr-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əm How to pronounce moratorium (audio)
ˌmär-
plural moratoriums or moratoria ˌmȯr-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-ə How to pronounce moratorium (audio)
ˌmär-
Synonyms of moratorium
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 of moratorium

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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
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That would guarantee exclusive 45-day theatrical windows and a moratorium on distributing the movies on streaming services for at least 90 days, with potentially financial penalties if Paramount failed to hold up its end of the bargain. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026 The moratoriums themselves may not be particularly consequential to the advance of artificial intelligence—many data centers have already been built, and others can be constructed in friendlier jurisdictions, or even overseas. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks, authored a 2022 bill that put the initial safeguards in place and continued the moratorium until the state adopted new regulations. — Jason Henry, Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026 And Lakeland City Commissioners pass a one-year moratorium on data center construction as the debate over AI facilities plays out in election campaigns around the state. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for moratorium

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Late Latin, neuter of moratorius dilatory, from Latin morari to delay, from mora delay

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of moratorium was in 1875

Rhymes for moratorium

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Browse Nearby Words

morat
moratorium
Moratuwa
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Cite this Entry

“Moratorium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moratorium. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

moratorium

noun
mor·​a·​to·​ri·​um ˌmȯr-ə-ˈtōr-ē-əm How to pronounce moratorium (audio)
ˌmär-, 
-ˈtȯr-
plural moratoriums or moratoria -ē-ə How to pronounce moratorium (audio)
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 How to pronounce moratorium (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on moratorium

Nglish: Translation of moratorium for Spanish Speakers

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