Today’s word Moratorium is a noun that describes a temporary suspension of an activity or legal obligation. It is widely used in finance, law, public policy and corporate regulation.
What does Moratorium mean?
Moratorium means an officially authorized pause or delay in the enforcement of a law, payment or activity. Simply put, the definition of a moratorium describes a temporary halt, not a permanent repeal. In modern English, it is commonly used in banking, public administration and crisis management.
You might have heard about it during the COVID-19 pandemic when the RBI allowed a moratorium on EMIs and loans due to the economic crisis.
Pronunciation and phonetics in moratorium
• Phonetic spelling: mor-uh-TOR-ee-um
• IPA Notation: /ˌmɒrəˈtɔːriəm/
The origin and etymology of moratorium
The word comes from the late Latin moratorius, meaning “tending to delay”. It is derived from morari, meaning “to delay”. It entered English at the end of the 19th century.
Initially, it was mainly used in legal and financial contexts to describe late payments on debt. Over time, its use has expanded into public policy, such as environmental or construction moratoriums.
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the term gained wider popularity during economic crises when governments announced temporary relief measures.
How to use moratorium in a sentence
Use in different contexts
• News & Politics: “Government announces moratorium on new mining licenses.”
• Finance: “The bank granted a six-month moratorium on loan repayments.”
• Business: “The company has requested a moratorium on its debt restructuring.”
Synonyms and Antonyms for Moratorium
If you are looking for moratorium synonyms, consider the following:
The opposite of that moratorium would indicate continuation or enforcement:
Why the 2026 moratorium is relevant
In 2026, the word “moratorium” frequently comes up in discussions of student loans, farm debt, and climate policies. Governments and banks continue to use temporary pauses in repayment during economic stress.
Test your knowledge
Have you heard the word moratorium in the latest financial news?
Can you use it correctly in a sentence?
