Moratorium

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Origin

Latin moratorius ‘delaying,’ from Latin morat- ‘delayed,’ from the verb morari, from moradelay.’

Definitions

  • 1: a temporary prohibition of an activity: an indefinite moratorium on the use of drift nets.
  • 2: a legal authorization to debtors to postpone payment.

Description

A moratorium is a delay or suspension of an activity or a law. In a legal context, it may refer to the temporary suspension of a law to allow a legal challenge to be carried out.

For example, animal rights activists and conservation authorities may request fishing or hunting moratoriums to protect endangered or threatened animal species. These delays, or suspensions, prevent people from hunting or fishing the animals in discussion.

Another instance is a delay of legal obligations or payment. A legal official can order a delay of payment due to extenuating circumstances, which render one party incapable of paying another.

A moratorium in the home entertainment business refers to the practice of suspending the sales on home video DVD, VHS, and Blu-ray movies and boxed sets after a certain period of time. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment practices moratorium more than any other production company, often with releases of classic animated movies in the Disney catalogue.