Words / C2

hy-AYT-uh-s/haɪˈeɪtəs/

A hiatus is a pause or gap in a process or series (formal): a brief hiatus, on hiatus (especially US media). Gap, break, and pause are everyday; hiatus hernia is medical. Do not call a cancelled clinic a “hiatus” to imply a planned return you have not funded.

Meaning

A pause or gap in a process or series (formal).

Examples

• “After a hiatus of one term the night clinic still had no spare key.”
• “Break and pause are everyday. A gap can be in a document. On hiatus is set phrasing for shows. A hernia is a different medical noun. If the post is deleted, it is a closure, not a hiatus.”

Good to know

A gap; an interruption. Everyday: break / pause. Phrase: on hiatus. Mix-up: hiatus hernia. An unfunded return is a closure.

Near in meaning

pause

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