molt: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowBiological/Technical, occasionally literary.
Quick answer
What does “molt” mean?
To shed or cast off hair, feathers, skin, or an outer layer periodically.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To shed or cast off hair, feathers, skin, or an outer layer periodically.
To undergo a renewal phase where old material is discarded to make way for new growth or development; used literally for animals or figuratively for systems, ideas, or identities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The standard British spelling is 'moult'. The standard American spelling is 'molt'.
Connotations
Identical in meaning and usage; difference is purely orthographic.
Frequency
The word is equally specialized and low-frequency in both dialects. The spelling 'molt' is almost exclusively American; 'moult' is almost exclusively British/Commonwealth.
Grammar
How to Use “molt” in a Sentence
[Subject: animal] + molt[Subject: animal] + molt + [Object: hair/feathers/skin][Subject: animal] + molt + [Adverbial: in the spring/periodically]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “molt” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The hawk will moult its flight feathers this summer.
- My tarantula has begun to moult in its hide.
American English
- The crab molts its shell as it grows.
- Many birds molt twice a year.
adjective
British English
- The moulting duck looked rather scruffy.
- We entered the moulting period for our flock.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially used metaphorically: 'The company is molting its outdated practices.'
Academic
Common in biological/zoological texts describing animal life cycles.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used by pet owners (e.g., bird, reptile, tarantula owners) or in nature contexts.
Technical
Standard term in zoology, herpetology, ornithology, and entomology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “molt”
- Spelling: Using 'molt' in UK English or 'moult' in US English.
- Confusion with 'melt': 'The snow will molt' is incorrect.
- Using it for a one-time loss (e.g., 'He molted a tooth') is incorrect; it implies a cyclic, natural process.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not literally. Humans do not molt. It is used only for animals that shed skin, hair, or feathers as a biological process. It can be used figuratively for humans.
'Molt' (or 'moult') is also the noun. Example: 'The bird is going through a molt.'
'Molt' is more specific and biological, often implying a regular cycle. 'Shed' is more general (shed tears, shed light, shed weight). All animals that molt are shedding, but not all shedding is molting (e.g., a dog shedding hair year-round).
In American English, it rhymes with 'bolt' (/moʊlt/). In British English ('moult'), it rhymes with 'bolt' but can have a longer 'o' sound (/məʊlt/), similar to 'moat'.
To shed or cast off hair, feathers, skin, or an outer layer periodically.
Molt is usually biological/technical, occasionally literary. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to molt one's old skin (figurative: to change oneself fundamentally)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an OLD T-shirt (sounds like 'molt') that you SHED or cast off because it's worn out, just like an animal sheds its old skin or feathers.
Conceptual Metaphor
RENEWAL IS SHEDDING SKIN. CHANGE IS MOLTING.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'molt' used CORRECTLY?