moped

1 of 2

noun

mo·​ped ˈmō-ˌped 

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

2 of 2

past tense of mope entry 1

Examples of moped in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Riding a moped is generally one such exclusion, due to the risk of injury, Morrow said. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026

The Dutch — forebears of our city and exemplars of cycling culture — require fast e-bikes to be licensed and insured as mopeds. —Sameer Butt, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026

Electric mopeds and motorcycles fall under separate rules and require a driver’s license and, in some cases, a motorcycle endorsement. —Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025

Now, after five decades, Peugeot has revived the nameplate as an electric moped. —New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Swedish, from motor motor + pedal pedal

First Known Use

Noun

1954, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for moped

• eloped
• coped
• doped
• groped
• hoped
• loped
• roped
• scoped
• sloped
• telescoped

Kids Definition

moped

noun

mo·​ped ˈmō-ˌped 

: a lightweight low-powered motorbike that can be pedaled