: any of various usually very large extinct flightless birds of New Zealand of a ratite order (Dinornithiformes) including one (Dinornis giganteus of the family Dinornithidae) nearly 12 feet (3.7 meters) in height
Examples of moa in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The moa, a flightless bird over 2.6 meters tall and the pouakai, an eagle with a wingspan of 3-4 meters.
—
Marta Balaga, Variety, 2 Aug. 2023
Today, moa are extinct and kakapos as well as kiwi, the nation’s bird, are endangered.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2019
There were several different species of moa that are difficult to tell apart - egg DNA could help Oskam to do just that.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2010
Several others were classified by comparing, say, a femur to a toe, and by borrowing, inexactly, a system developed to assess New Zealand’s moa, another famous extinct bunch of ratites (generally large, flightless birds).
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 25 Sep. 2018
When Western scientists first encountered moa, the idea that species could go extinct was just a few decades old.
—Boyce Upholt, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2022
Rather than cows or antelopes, there was a family of flightless birds known as moa.
—Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022
The upland moa was also the last one to go extinct.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 2 July 2012
There were 11 or so species of moa alive in the past, ranging from hefty to alarmingly large.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 2 July 2012
See More
Marta Balaga, Variety, 2 Aug. 2023
Today, moa are extinct and kakapos as well as kiwi, the nation’s bird, are endangered.
—Roni Dengler, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2019
There were several different species of moa that are difficult to tell apart - egg DNA could help Oskam to do just that.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2010
Several others were classified by comparing, say, a femur to a toe, and by borrowing, inexactly, a system developed to assess New Zealand’s moa, another famous extinct bunch of ratites (generally large, flightless birds).
—Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 25 Sep. 2018
When Western scientists first encountered moa, the idea that species could go extinct was just a few decades old.
—Boyce Upholt, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2022
Rather than cows or antelopes, there was a family of flightless birds known as moa.
—Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2022
The upland moa was also the last one to go extinct.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 2 July 2012
There were 11 or so species of moa alive in the past, ranging from hefty to alarmingly large.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 2 July 2012
See More
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
Dictionary Entries Near moa
Cite this Entry
“Moa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moa. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
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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
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about moa
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