moat

noun

ˈmōt 

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.

moated

ˈmō-təd 

adjective

moatlike

ˈmōt-ˌlīk 

adjective

Illustration of moat

• moat 1

Examples of moat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The organizations that endure are the ones that treat these moats as strategy, not slogans. — Vivek Bhaskaran, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Its vast repository of patient records and clinical insights has become essential for modern drug development, creating a moat that competitors cannot easily replicate. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 24 June 2026

Proprietary data, specialised hardware, scientific expertise and difficult-to-reproduce infrastructure are becoming durable moats. — Carl Fritjofsson, Fortune, 19 June 2026

My usual route out was through Sleeping Beauty’s castle, over the moat via a working drawbridge. — Steve Martin, The Atlantic, 11 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mote, from Anglo-French mote, motte mound, moat

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for moat

• bloat
• boat
• choate
• coat
• cote
• dote
• float
• gloat
• goat
• groat
• haute
• mote

Kids Definition

moat

noun

ˈmōt 

: a deep wide trench around the walls of a castle or fortress that is usually filled with water