: 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

Recent Examples on the Web The tallest bird to ever exist was the extinct South Island giant moa, native to New Zealand. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 20 June 2024 Centuries ago, bush moas were among the world's largest birds. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 23 May 2024 Researchers have been finding bush moa fossils for centuries, Edwards said. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 23 May 2024 New Zealand was once a land of flightless birds like the extinct moa—no terrestrial mammalian predators in sight. Rina Diane Caballar, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for moa 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'moa.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Maori

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of moa was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near moa

Cite this Entry

“Moa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moa. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

moa

noun
: any of various usually very large extinct birds of New Zealand that were not able to fly

More from Merriam-Webster on moa

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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