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
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
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
Mass.gov moped
2 of 2past tense of mope entry 1
Examples of moped in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2026
Police said preliminary information suggested that a 20-year-old man was shot while riding a moped.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
Those with motors of a certain size are legally classified as mopeds or motorcycles and cannot legally be ridden by anyone younger than age 16.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
Two men wearing ski masks fled the scene on a moped.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
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Noun
The officers contend federal prosecutors pursued a politically motivated case against them following the 2020 death of Karon Hylton-Brown, a 20-year-old moped rider who was fatally struck by a civilian vehicle while fleeing police in Northwest Washington.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2026
Police said preliminary information suggested that a 20-year-old man was shot while riding a moped.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
Those with motors of a certain size are legally classified as mopeds or motorcycles and cannot legally be ridden by anyone younger than age 16.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
Two men wearing ski masks fled the scene on a moped.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moped
Cite this Entry
“Moped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moped. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
moped
noun
mo·ped
ˈmō-ˌped 
: a lightweight low-powered motorbike that can be pedaled
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