moped

American  

[moh-ped] / ˈmoʊˌpɛd /

noun

1. a motorized bicycle that has pedals in addition to a low-powered gasoline engine designed for low-speed operation.

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moped British  

/ ˈməʊpɛd /

noun

1. a light motorcycle, not over 50cc

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Etymology

Origin of moped

1955–60; < German, ultimately < Swedish ( trampcykel med ) mo ( tor och ) ped ( aler ) pedal cycle with engine and pedals

Explanation

A moped is a two-wheeled vehicle that can be powered by pedals or an engine. You might find it easier to get around the city on your moped than in a car. Although today there are some mopeds that don't have them, the earliest versions always included bicycle pedals. The word itself was coined in 1952 by a Swedish journalist, from trampcykel med motor och pedaler, literally "pedal cycle with motor and pedals." It's relatively easy to get a license to ride a moped, which is less powerful and slower than a motorcycle.

Example Sentences

The Metropolitan Police presented three images to the court showing Sir Idris, 53, after his moped triggered a speed camera on the morning of 21 June.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

Pulling up his laptop, Dallas shows off the art for a single: On a majestic winding Italian road, ian perches pensively on a white moped, in an all-white yacht outfit, barefoot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 26, 2025

One pupil, Matthew, said learning to ride the moped was what attracted him to take the GCSE.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2025

In the last 24 hours, they have chased a “tag team duo” on a moped off a client’s property.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2025

He moped around the Boston PIH office for a while, then went on a lecture tour, hitting small towns in Maine, Texas, Kansas, and Iowa, explaining the situation in Haiti to anyone who would listen.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French