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

Lindgren acknowledged that venture capitalists often ask him about the startup’s competitive moat, and whether a company such as Autodesk could replicate Endra’s technology. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025

This emotional connection is a powerful moat that price-cutting competitors cannot easily cross. 3. —Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 9 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

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