moat
moat Lexical Profile
moat Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A deep, wide trench, usually filled with water, surrounding a castle, fortress, or town as a defense against attack.
"The invading army struggled to find a way across the castle's steep, water-filled moat."
A distinct, sustainable competitive advantage that protects a company's market share and profitability from rival firms (often called an 'economic moat').
"The tech giant's proprietary software ecosystem serves as a massive moat against new competitors entering the market."
• verb
To surround or protect a structure or settlement with a defensive trench.
"The medieval lords moated their stone manor to defend against local uprisings."
Word Nuance & Usage
Moat is sometimes confused with its homophone 'mote', which refers to a tiny particle or speck of a substance.
• Rhymes for moat
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'mote' (mound, embankment, defensive ditch), borrowed from Old French 'motte' (mound, hillock), likely of pre-Roman, Gaulish origin.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.