moratorium

/ˌmɔrəˈtɔriəm/
noun
  1. A temporary stop or pause in an activity, especially one that is official or agreed upon.
    • Both sides agreed to a moratorium on fighting while peace talks continued.
    • The government declared a moratorium on new oil drilling to protect the environment.
    • The school placed a moratorium on field trips until the budget was reviewed.
  2. A legal authorization to delay payment of a debt for a set period.
    • During the recession, many businesses asked for a moratorium on their debts.
    • The moratorium gave the family extra time to gather funds before paying the mortgage.
    • The bank granted a moratorium on loan payments for customers affected by the flood.
Antonyms