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

When utility becomes a commodity, experience becomes the moat. — Michal Rahamim, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026

An unshakable moat The industrial gas ecosystem is driven by broad secular trends, including the reshoring of manufacturing, advanced semiconductor nodes and carbon capture infrastructure. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Regulation written with significant input from OpenAI and Anthropic, Luria argued, could therefore turn safety rules into a moat around the companies already at the frontier. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026

Ant moats are the most effective way of keeping ants out of the feeder if the ants don’t have an alternate route. — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 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