mo
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1
an officially declared pause of a specific action or policy, often imposed by authorities to allow for review, safety, or negotiation
- The government imposed a moratorium on offshore drilling after the oil spill.
- Activists called for a moratorium on deforestation in the region.
- The university announced a moratorium on new admissions to the program.
- A five-year moratorium on capital punishment was enacted.
- The city council voted for a moratorium on building permits in flood-prone areas.
2
a legally allowed delay in fulfilling financial obligations, especially debt repayment, often granted during emergencies or economic hardship
- The court granted a moratorium on loan repayments during the bankruptcy proceedings.
- After the hurricane, residents received a six-month moratorium on mortgage payments.
- The bank offered a temporary moratorium to struggling borrowers.
- A national moratorium on student loan payments was enacted during the recession.
- The company requested a moratorium to restructure its debt.