moped

1 of 2

noun

mo·​ped ˈmō-ˌped 

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

2 of 2

past tense of mope entry 1

Examples of moped in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Tuesday shooting marks the latest violent crime in which a moped or a scooter was used as a getaway vehicle, cops said. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 June 2024

That time has come again, as news reports have shown that city officials recently destroyed hundreds of mopeds and scooters. —Lawrence Hodge / Jalopnik, Quartz, 11 June 2024

Burton was assisting with a traffic stop of a man on a moped on Aug. 10, 2022, when she was shot in the head. —Jade Thomas, The Indianapolis Star, 6 June 2024

Enlarge / Past and present: the Moto parked next to an old-school moped at the local Dairy Queen. —Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 16 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Swedish, from motor motor + pedal pedal

First Known Use

Noun

1954, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

moped

noun

mo·​ped ˈmō-ˌped 

: a lightweight low-powered motorbike that can be pedaled