- Today's Word
Moratorium
mor-uh-TOR-ee-um
Definition
(noun) A temporary suspension or delay of an activity, often by legal authority.
Example
The city announced a moratorium on new construction permits.
Fun Fact
Moratorium is often used in legal, governmental, or corporate settings to put a temporary halt to something controversial or under review—think eviction moratoriums or moratoriums on drilling. It originally comes from Latin morari, meaning “to delay.” You’ll often hear it in debates around environmental policy, legislation, and labor strikes—where it signals a pause, but not a solution.
(adjective) Understood or implied without being stated; unspoken but recognized.
There was a tacit agreement among the siblings not to bring up the topic during dinner.
From Latin tacitus, meaning “silent” or “unspoken.”