moratorium

C2+ Topic:Time

US /ˌmɔrəˈtɔriəm/ UK /ˌmɒrəˈtɔːriəm/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
a temporary, officially agreed prohibition or suspension of an activity

The council imposed a moratorium on new construction permits.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a temporary, officially... suspension ban prohibition freeze halt embargo

Opposites

continuation resumption

Word family

Related forms moratory

Etymology

A modern Latin coinage from Late Latin mōrātōrius ('delaying'), from Latin morārī ('to delay'), from mora ('delay').

mōrātōrius Latin morārī Latin mora Latin

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# moratorium

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˌmɔrəˈtɔriəm
**IPA (UK):** ˌmɒrəˈtɔːriəm

## Meanings
1. a temporary, officially agreed prohibition or suspension of an activity

## Examples
- The council imposed a moratorium on new construction permits.

## Synonyms
- suspension
- ban
- prohibition
- freeze
- halt
- embargo

## Antonyms
- continuation
- resumption

## Related Forms
- moratory

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: mōrātōrius
- Root: morārī
- Root: mora

## Etymology
A modern Latin coinage from Late Latin mōrātōrius ('delaying'), from Latin morārī ('to delay'), from mora ('delay').

## AI Etymology
Moratorium is a modern Latin coinage from Late Latin mōrātōrius ('delaying'), from Latin morārī ('to delay'), from mora ('delay'). The etymological trail includes Latin mōrātōrius, Latin morārī, and Latin mora. As a noun, moratorium means a temporary, officially agreed prohibition or suspension of an activity. The same family is visible in related forms such as moratory.

## Topics
- Time

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moratorium

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