moat

noun

ˈmōt 

1

: a deep and wide trench around the rampart of a fortified place (such as a castle) that is usually filled with water

The moat can be crossed by a drawbridge.

2

: a channel resembling a moat (as about a seamount or for confinement of animals in a zoo)

A Bengal tiger stared at me from across the moat.

moated

ˈmō-təd 

adjective

moatlike

ˈmōt-ˌlīk 

adjective

Illustration of moat

• moat 1

Examples of moat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Indonesia needs to increase global competitiveness, not build a moat around key industries. —William Pesek, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Its scale and the scarcity of high-quality retail real estate give it a durable moat — no single tenant accounts for more than 5% of consolidated revenues. —Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 8 June 2026

Install an Ant Moat Ant moats are little basins that hold water that are hung below hummingbird feeders. —Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 4 June 2026

In Latin America stadiums have been constructed with anti-hooligan architecture such as high fencing and moats. —Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mote, from Anglo-French mote, motte mound, moat

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for moat

• bloat
• boat
• choate
• coat
• cote
• dote
• float
• gloat
• goat
• groat
• haute
• mote

Kids Definition

moat

noun

ˈmōt 

: a deep wide trench around the walls of a castle or fortress that is usually filled with water