Illustration of moat
- moat 1
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.
Examples of moat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The process will begin with the moat around the Castle being drained.
—
Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
OpenAI and Google are in a virtual tie, though OpenAI has fewer defensive moats and must innovate quickly to retain its lead.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2025
Monness Crespi Hardt & Co initiates Circle as buy Monness said Circle has a wide moat.
—Michael Bloom, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
But when a mother (Olivia Horton) throws her toddler into a moat surrounding an enclosure full of prowling lions at the zoo, puzzle pieces come together like a satanic symbol.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moat
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.
Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
OpenAI and Google are in a virtual tie, though OpenAI has fewer defensive moats and must innovate quickly to retain its lead.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2025
Monness Crespi Hardt & Co initiates Circle as buy Monness said Circle has a wide moat.
—Michael Bloom, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
But when a mother (Olivia Horton) throws her toddler into a moat surrounding an enclosure full of prowling lions at the zoo, puzzle pieces come together like a satanic symbol.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moat
Cite this Entry
“Moat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moat. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
moat
noun
: a deep wide trench around the walls of a castle or fortress that is usually filled with water
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share