mor ‧ a ‧ to ‧ ri ‧ um /ˌmɒrəˈtɔːriəm $ ˌmɔː-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural moratoriums or moratoria ) [countable usually singular]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: Modern Latin ; Origin: Late Latin moratorius 'delaying' , from Latin morari 'to delay' ]
1 . an official stopping of an activity for a period of time
moratorium on
a moratorium on nuclear testing
2 . a law or an agreement that gives people more time to pay their debts:
a two-year moratorium on interest payments