# moratorium

/ˌmɔɹəˈtɔɹiəm/ (US) · /mˌɔːɹɐtˈɔːɹiəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/moratorium
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. suspension of activity

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a temporary stop to a specific activity, often for safety or political reasons.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. delay of payment

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a legal agreement that lets a person or country stop paying debts for a short time.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. psychological delay

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Technical

a period in young adulthood where a person explores their identity before taking on adult duties.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The government declared a moratorium on new oil drilling.
- Environmental groups are calling for a five-year moratorium on deep-sea mining until more research is conducted on the ecological impact.
- Following the economic crisis, the administration enacted a moratorium on home foreclosures to provide struggling families with a window of stability while they restructured their finances.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.