moped

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noun

mo·​ped ˈmō-ˌped How to pronounce moped (audio)
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

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past tense of mope entry 1

Examples of moped in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Police responded to 25 Calder St. where a person told officers his moped was stolen. Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2024 Ed appears to share some of his stepdad's mechanical inventiveness, having spent years designing and building bicycles and mopeds. Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 24 Nov. 2024 Prior to his death, the victim was being sought for questioning in connection with a February 2024 robbery in East New York, Brooklyn, where two men on a red moped stole a man’s cellphone and $80 in cash, according to sources. Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025 Deep into February, the space is chaotic with vintage objects: mopeds and mannequins, guitars and amplifiers, golf clubs and croquet sets, beer signs and oil paintings. David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for moped

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Swedish, from motor motor + pedal pedal

First Known Use

Noun

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of moped was in 1954

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moped.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moped. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

moped

noun
mo·​ped ˈmō-ˌped How to pronounce moped (audio)
: a lightweight low-powered motorbike that can be pedaled

More from Merriam-Webster on moped

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