moped

moped — noun

1. a two-wheeled vehicle for use on roads, fitted with a small motor and pedals tha

1.nounB1
Definition

a two-wheeled vehicle for use on roads, fitted with a small motor and pedals that the rider can push with their feet to help start the engine or climb slopes

Example

Ravi saved up his summer wages and bought a red moped to get to school.

determiner + colour + moped: a red moped

Narrow streets in the old town are easier on a moped than in a car.

comparative: easier to manage on a moped than...

Common collocations
  • ride a moped
  • moped rider
  • moped lane
  • moped helmet
  • moped engine
  • by moped
Synonyms
  • motorbike

    more general term for any two-wheeled motor vehicle; a moped is a specific type of motorbike with pedals

  • scooter

    also a small two-wheeled vehicle, but scooters typically have an automatic transmission and a step-through frame with no pedals

  • motorcycle

    larger and more powerful than a moped; motorcycles generally have no pedals and require a full motorcycle licence

Grammar Patterns

a [adjective] moped

ride/drive a moped

by moped

Usage Note

In many countries, mopeds have legal restrictions separate from motorcycles — riders may need a special licence and must wear a helmet.

Common Mistakes

I rode my scooter up the hill but had to pedal because the battery died.
I rode my moped up the hill but had to pedal because the engine struggled.
A scooter usually has an automatic transmission and no pedals; a moped has pedals that the rider can push.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Motorbike is the broadest term and covers any powered two-wheeler, from a moped to a racing motorcycle. A moped stands out because it has pedals — the rider can push with their feet when the engine is weak, such as on a hill. A scooter differs in design: it has a flat floor for the rider's feet, smaller wheels, and an automatic transmission, making it easier to operate but lacking the pedal option. A motorcycle is larger and far more powerful, designed for higher speeds and longer distances; it typically requires a full driving licence and has no pedals at all. For example, a teenager might start on a moped to run local errands, later switch to a scooter for city commuting, and finally upgrade to a motorcycle for highway travel.

motorbike ↗scooter ↗motorcycle ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • by moped
  • on a moped
  • ride a moped
  • moped rider

Prepositions

Etymology

SwedishEnglish

The word moped was created in Sweden in the 1950s by blending motor ('engine') and pedaler ('pedals'). The idea was to describe a lightweight vehicle that could be both pedalled like a bicycle and driven by a small engine. The term spread into English in the 1960s as these vehicles became popular across Europe.