# moa

/mˈəʊɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/moa
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

a very large, flightless bird that lived in New Zealand. It is now extinct, but scientists have found many of its bones.

For teachers: a flightless, ratite bird of the family Dinornithidae, native to New Zealand. It is now extinct, having been hunted to extinction by the Māori and later by European settlers.

## Examples

- Scientists found a moa bone in the cave.
- The discovery of a complete moa skeleton provided researchers with a better understanding of its massive size and unique bone structure.
- The extinction of the moa serves as a cautionary tale of how human activity can rapidly alter an ecosystem, leading to the loss of species that have existed for millions of years.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.