In Japanese
moratorium; period of grace; extension (of time, e.g. to make payments)
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. All sources.
Definitions
01suspension of activity
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a temporary stop to a specific activity, often for safety or political reasons.
n. a formal suspension of an ongoing activity or practice, typically mandated by a governing body.
“The government called for a moratorium on new coal mines to protect the environment.”
“Environmental groups are lobbying for a ten-year moratorium on deep-sea mining until the long-term ecological impacts can be fully assessed.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'on'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02delay of payment
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. a legal agreement that lets a person or country stop paying debts for a short time.
n. a legally authorized period of delay in the performance of a legal obligation or the payment of a debt.
“The bank offered a six-month moratorium on mortgage payments during the crisis.”
“The international community agreed to a debt moratorium for the developing nation to prevent a total collapse of its domestic economy.”
Usage
Commonly appears in financial and legal contexts regarding debt relief.
Synonyms
03psychological delay
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Academic · Technical
n. a period in young adulthood where a person explores their identity before taking on adult duties.
n. a period of identity exploration during adolescence or young adulthood when permanent commitments are delayed.
“University can be a useful moratorium for students to decide what they want in life.”
“Erikson described the psychosocial moratorium as a critical phase for developing a coherent sense of self before entering the workforce.”
Teaching tip
This sense is specific to psychology and sociology; in general contexts, the word almost always refers to a legal or official halt.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Some 170 states have abolished or introduced a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, according to the UN’s human rights office, OHCHR .” “These findings suggest eviction trends could have been far worse without government protections, such as a temporary eviction moratorium .” Etymology
New Latin from Late Latin morātōrium, noun use of the neuter of morātōrius (“moratory, delaying”), from Latin moror (“I delay”), from mora (“delay”), from Proto-Indo-European *mere (“to delay, hinder”). See also moratory.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/moratorium
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0