moratorium
C1Formal; official; academic; journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
A temporary, legally authorized suspension or prohibition of a specified activity.
Any formally agreed or informally accepted pause or suspension of activity, typically used in response to a crisis or to allow for assessment. Figuratively, a period of deliberate delay.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a formal, often collective decision to halt an activity for a defined or indefinite period. It carries a sense of official sanction or mutual agreement, distinguishing it from a simple 'pause'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and usage are identical. The plural is 'moratoriums' or 'moratoria', with 'moratoria' being more common in formal/academic contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Equally formal in both. May be slightly more common in US media discourse regarding finance/debt. In UK, often appears in environmental/planning contexts.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in formal registers. Low frequency in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + a moratorium + on + [activity/noun phrase]a moratorium + [verb] + [prepositional phrase]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A breathing space (informal equivalent)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A government-imposed moratorium on debt repayments for struggling industries.
Academic
The ethics committee called for a global moratorium on certain forms of genetic editing.
Everyday
We've put a moratorium on buying new gadgets until we save some money.
Technical
The environmental agency issued a drilling moratorium pending a full geological survey.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- To moratorise is not a standard verb.
- The verb form is not used; use 'impose a moratorium'.
- No standard verb derivative in use.
American English
- The bank agreed to moratorium the loan payments. (Non-standard, rare)
- No productive verb form is standard.
- Use 'to place under a moratorium' instead.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form (e.g., 'moratorily' is non-existent).
- The payments ceased moratorium-style. (Informal, non-standard)
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
- No established adverb.
- Use 'temporarily' or 'pending a moratorium'.
adjective
British English
- The moratorium period was extended by six months.
- They discussed moratorium arrangements for the debt.
- The moratorium proposal was controversial.
American English
- The moratorium deadline is next Friday.
- They entered into a moratorium agreement.
- The bill included moratorium provisions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The school has a moratorium on mobile phones in class.
- The government announced a moratorium on new road building.
- During the drought, there was a moratorium on using garden hoses.
- The council imposed a six-month moratorium on high-rise developments in the historic centre.
- Creditors agreed to a moratorium on the country's debt repayments.
- The international treaty includes a de facto moratorium on commercial whaling, though it is not legally binding.
- A philosophical moratorium on certain AI research is being debated by leading ethicists.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MORATORIUM' as 'MORE TIME, I UM...' need to think – it's a pause to get more time.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MORATORIUM IS A LEGAL/SOCIAL BRAKE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не является прямым эквивалентом 'карантин' (quarantine).
- Более узкое и формальное, чем 'перерыв' (break/pause).
- Не означает 'запрет навсегда' (permanent ban), а временный.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for a permanent ban (e.g., 'a moratorium on nuclear weapons forever').
- Using it without 'on' to specify the activity (e.g., 'They declared a moratorium.' – incomplete).
- Pronouncing it /mɔːˈreɪtəriəm/ (incorrect stress).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'moratorium' LEAST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A moratorium is a temporary suspension, often for review or due to a crisis. An embargo is a specific ban on trade or commercial activity with a particular country, often for political reasons, and can be indefinite.
It can be used humorously or semi-formally in everyday contexts (e.g., 'a family moratorium on discussing politics'), but it retains its formal connotations. 'Pause' or 'break' is more natural for truly informal settings.
Both 'moratoriums' and 'moratoria' are correct. 'Moratoria' is derived from Latin and is preferred in formal, legal, and academic writing.
Typically, yes. A moratorium is a temporary halt, not necessarily a permanent cancellation. However, it can sometimes lead to a permanent ban after the review period.