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

Wade and Union married in an over-the-top ceremony Aug. 30, 2014 at the Chateau Artisan, a castle in Homestead surrounded by a moat. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025

According to Kennedy and Blitzer, that moat consists of three main factors: A trusted brand: The S&P 500 name is everywhere. —Alex Mayyasi, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025

These applications can create competitive moats and generate measurable ROI. —Craig Costigan, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

The castle is straight out of a fairy tale, complete with a moat and towers and courtyards, and period furniture and artwork. —Thomas Page McBee, Travel + Leisure, 16 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