plural mopeds
: a lightweight, low-powered motorbike that can be pedaled
The difference between a moped and a scooter is like the difference between an economy car and full-sized coupe. A scooter has comfy footrests instead of pedals and a luxurious seat seemingly long enough to accommodate a family of four.—
Kelly Whiteside
Kelly Whiteside
broadly
: any low-powered motorbike
The Motorman may fit the legal definition of a moped, but it has no pedals. The drivetrain is fully electric. —Rene Chun
Rene Chun A moped is defined as either a pedal bicycle with a helper motor or a non-pedal bicycle with a motor, which has all of the following characteristics: Have a cylinder capacity of no more than 50 cubic centimeters. Have an automatic transmission. Be capable of a maximum speed of no more than 30 miles per hour. Comply with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. —Mass.gov
Mass.gov moped
2 of 2past tense of mope entry 1
Examples of moped in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Thus, entries at the show range from six-digit customs (above) to mopeds covered in glitter (below) to daily riders still coated in road grime.
—William Roberson, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
Boston Police towed ten scooters and mopeds for motor vehicle violations Monday as a part of the department’s ongoing Operation Safe Scooter.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 19 May 2026
California Attorney General Rob Bonta warning that some vehicles marketed as e-bikes may legally qualify as motorcycles or mopeds under state law.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moped
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Motorized bicycles that exceed certain speeds and mopeds are placed into a different classification by most states, with age and licensing requirements.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Thus, entries at the show range from six-digit customs (above) to mopeds covered in glitter (below) to daily riders still coated in road grime.
—William Roberson, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
Boston Police towed ten scooters and mopeds for motor vehicle violations Monday as a part of the department’s ongoing Operation Safe Scooter.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 19 May 2026
California Attorney General Rob Bonta warning that some vehicles marketed as e-bikes may legally qualify as motorcycles or mopeds under state law.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moped
Cite this Entry
“Moped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moped. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
moped
noun
mo·ped
ˈmō-ˌped 
: a lightweight low-powered motorbike that can be pedaled
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
