moratorium
noun [ C, usually singular ]
uk/ˌmɒrəˈtɔːriəm/ usplural moratoriums or moratoriaa period of time during which a particular activity is stopped:
a moratorium on sth The European Union imposed a two-year moratorium on new GM imports.
end/impose/lift a moratorium
FINANCE (also debt moratorium)
an agreed period of time during which a country does not have to pay its debt to other countries:
An immediate debt moratorium would free resources for poor countries to spend on health and education programmes.