moccasin

noun

moc·​ca·​sin ˈmä-kə-sən 

1

a

: a soft leather heelless shoe or boot with the sole brought up the sides of the foot and over the toes where it is joined with a puckered seam to a U-shaped piece lying on top of the foot

b

: a regular shoe having a seam on the forepart of the vamp imitating the seam of a moccasin

2

a

: water moccasin

b

: a snake (as of the genus Gloydius) resembling a water moccasin

moccasined

ˈmä-kə-sənd 

adjective

Examples of moccasin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The concepts are getting more adventurous, too, with brands like Asics experimenting with technical leather sneakers and New Balance readying moccasin-like mash-ups. —Riley Jones, Footwear News, 29 Nov. 2025

The trade cloth shirts, the long skirts, the moccasins—forgetting that this blend of fashions was relatively new at the time. —Eliana Ramage, Time, 25 Nov. 2025

Birkenstock, Uggs, and moccasins are just a few of the quintessential designs that rank for best slippers. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 3 Nov. 2025

But Lee doesn’t want to turn up at the Indian store looking like a white guy shopping for moccasins. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Virginia Algonquian mockasin

First Known Use

circa 1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing moccasin

• cottonmouth moccasin
• moccasin flower
• water moccasin

Kids Definition

moccasin

noun

moc·​ca·​sin ˈmäk-ə-sən 

1

a

: a soft leather shoe without a heel and with the sole and sides made of one piece

b

: a similar shoe with a separate sole

2

: water moccasin

Medical Definition

moccasin

noun

moc·​ca·​sin ˈmäk-ə-sən 

1

: water moccasin

2

: a snake (as of the genus Gloydius) resembling a water moccasin