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

Curiously, 1890 is also the model number that’s surfaced for a moccasin-sneaker hybrid from New Balance that’s yet to be released. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026

This contemporary take on a ballet shoe is easy to incorporate into your everyday rotation, while the moccasin-style toe adds even more visual interest to an already stunning shoe without overpowering the look. —Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2026

In fact, Dearfoams offers many more styles, including moccasins and clogs, so keep scrolling for more styles to consider. —Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 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

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