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

What public investors want to hear is a business that knows its unit economics, understands its competitive moat and can articulate why its best days are ahead without relying on heroic assumptions. —Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

The jelly dishes are removable, and the feeder includes an ant moat as well as bee guards to keep insects away. —Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2026

JPMorgan analysts have pointed to long-term contracts and switching costs as structural moats that won’t evaporate overnight. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 May 2026

Abroad, Putin focused on forming a moat of buffer countries, a gray zone between the East and the West. —Anna Nemtsova, Time, 23 May 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