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
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
That includes certain e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds, while also banning the popular products from bike lanes and walking and biking paths.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026
Motorized bicycles that exceed certain speeds and mopeds are placed into a different classification by most states, with age and licensing requirements.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moped
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Noun
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
That includes certain e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds, while also banning the popular products from bike lanes and walking and biking paths.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026
Motorized bicycles that exceed certain speeds and mopeds are placed into a different classification by most states, with age and licensing requirements.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 24 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 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
moped
noun
mo·ped
ˈmō-ˌped 
: a lightweight low-powered motorbike that can be pedaled
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