: any of various usually very large extinct flightless birds of New Zealand of a ratite order (Dinornithiformes) including two (Dinornis robustus and D. novaezelandiae of the family Dinornithidae) nearly 12 feet (3.7 meters) in height
Examples of moa in a Sentence
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Research into de-extinction of the moa will likely shed light on New Zealand's ecological past.
—
Mike Snider, USA Today, 9 July 2025
The process of bringing back birds like the moa, however, is an entirely different ballgame because they are formed inside of an egg.
—Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 9 July 2025
The project would initially involve recovering and analyzing ancient DNA from nine moa species to understand how the giant moa (Dinornis robustus) differed from living and extinct relatives in order to decode its unique genetic makeup, according to a company statement.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
Long fascinated by the moa, Jackson and Walsh have been collecting bones of the extinct bird for years.
—Degen Pener, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
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Mike Snider, USA Today, 9 July 2025
The process of bringing back birds like the moa, however, is an entirely different ballgame because they are formed inside of an egg.
—Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 9 July 2025
The project would initially involve recovering and analyzing ancient DNA from nine moa species to understand how the giant moa (Dinornis robustus) differed from living and extinct relatives in order to decode its unique genetic makeup, according to a company statement.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
Long fascinated by the moa, Jackson and Walsh have been collecting bones of the extinct bird for years.
—Degen Pener, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for moa
Cite this Entry
“Moa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moa. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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moa
noun
: any of various usually very large extinct birds of New Zealand that were not able to fly
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