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

For breakfast and lunch, there’s Gulf shrimp in a moat of creamy grits and massive triangles of quiche suspending earthy layers of collard greens. —The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025

Implementing these strategies today can not only help solve your company's talent problems but also create a strategic moat that defines the next generation of technology leadership. —Kevin Cushnie, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Technical moats that are eroding in software, where AI democratizes development, remain strong in robotics due to the complexity of physical world integration. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025

Nvidia's moat is under threat by other artificial intelligence chipmakers, according to Citi. —Pia Singh, CNBC, 8 Sep. 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