Meaning & use

moat

noun·Academic

A deep, wide ditch, typically filled with water, surrounding a castle or fort as a defense against attack.

See it in a sentence

A drawbridge crossed the moat leading into the ancient castle.

The zoo used a moat instead of bars to separate visitors from the lions.

A note on using this word

In business writing, 'moat' is used figuratively for a competitive advantage that protects a company from rivals.

Words with a similar meaning

ditch

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “moat”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.