noun Uncommon

hiatus

heye-AY-tuhs

Hiatus (noun) means a gap or interruption in something that would otherwise be continuous. Example: “The show is going on hiatus after this season.”

noun

A gap or interruption in something that would otherwise be continuous.

"The show is going on hiatus after this season."

"There was a five-year hiatus between the band's two albums."

A gap or opening, used in technical contexts such as anatomy or geology.

"The esophageal hiatus is the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes."

How to use hiatus

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA pause or break in something — a TV show, a career, a process — with the sense that it will likely resume later.

Common pairings

go on hiatus a brief hiatus after a hiatus

Word forms

hiatus plural, hiatuses plural, hiati plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “hiatus” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The show is going on _____ after this season.

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Latin "hiatus" (an opening), from "hio" meaning "to stand open, yawn."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for hiatus

status apparatus

See all rhymes for hiatus →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hiatus” mean?

The word “hiatus” means a gap or interruption in something that would otherwise be continuous. In plain terms, a pause or break in something — a TV show, a career, a process — with the sense that it will likely resume later.

How do you pronounce “hiatus”?

“Hiatus” is pronounced heye-AY-tuhs (/haɪˈeɪtəs/ in IPA).

How do you use “hiatus” in a sentence?

Here is “hiatus” used in a sentence: “The show is going on hiatus after this season.”

What part of speech is “hiatus”?

“Hiatus” is a noun.

Where does the word “hiatus” come from?

The word “hiatus” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin "hiatus" (an opening), from "hio" meaning "to stand open, yawn.".

Is “hiatus” a common word?

“Hiatus” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “hiatus” have?

“Hiatus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gap or interruption in something that would otherwise be continuous.