moped

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noun

mo·​ped ˈmō-ˌped How to pronounce moped (audio)
plural mopeds
: a lightweight, low-powered motorbike that can be pedaled
The difference between a moped and a scooter is like the difference between an economy car and full-sized coupe. A scooter has comfy footrests instead of pedals and a luxurious seat seemingly long enough to accommodate a family of four.Kelly Whiteside
broadly : any low-powered motorbike
The Motorman may fit the legal definition of a moped, but it has no pedals. The drivetrain is fully electric. Rene Chun
A moped is defined as either a pedal bicycle with a helper motor or a non-pedal bicycle with a motor, which has all of the following characteristics: Have a cylinder capacity of no more than 50 cubic centimeters. Have an automatic transmission. Be capable of a maximum speed of no more than 30 miles per hour. Comply with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. Mass.gov

moped

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past tense of mope entry 1

Examples of moped in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Called Verge Next, the new business-to-business division will license Verge's technology to companies that manufacture electric bicycles, motorbikes, scooters, and mopeds. New Atlas, 25 Apr. 2025 President Trump on Wednesday pardoned two D.C. police officers who were convicted in connection with a fatal collision with a moped during a pursuit by law enforcement. Ella Lee, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2025 Warning, graphic content An American ICU nurse had a harrowing brush with death after her rental moped crashed during a vacation to Thailand, leaving her with a brain bleed, a broken collarbone and shattered teeth. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025 In October, a 34-year-old Bronx man was killed when a charging lithium-ion moped battery set his kitchen on fire, officials said. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moped

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Swedish, from motor motor + pedal pedal

First Known Use

Noun

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of moped was in 1954

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moped. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

moped

noun
mo·​ped ˈmō-ˌped How to pronounce moped (audio)
: a lightweight low-powered motorbike that can be pedaled

More from Merriam-Webster on moped

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