moratorium
moratorium Lexical Profile
moratorium Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A temporary prohibition or suspension of an activity or law.
"The city council voted to impose a six-month moratorium on new commercial construction near the wetlands."
A legal authorization granted to debtors to postpone the payment of debts or the performance of financial obligations for a specified period.
"During the economic downturn, the government declared a temporary moratorium on mortgage foreclosures and debt repayments."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Moratorium' takes the preposition 'on' to specify the halted activity (e.g., 'a moratorium on construction'), and both 'moratoriums' and 'moratoria' are accepted plural forms.
• Rhymes for moratorium
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 19th century from Modern Latin moratorium, the neuter singular of the Late Latin adjective moratorius ('tending to delay'), from Latin morari ('to delay, tarry'), derived from mora ('a delay, pause').