broad moats

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broad moats" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a business or investment context to describe a company's strong competitive advantages that protect it from competitors. Example: "Companies with broad moats tend to perform better over the long term, as they can maintain their market share and profitability."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

By the time of his death, Ieyasu had built the largest castle in the world, a sprawling network of broad moats, towering stone walls, long wooden parapets, huge gatehouses, and great fireproof warehouses full of rice and coin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nobunaga's successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, built a great castle on the site with massive stone walls and broad moats; the castle town that developed around it was the origin of present-day Ōsaka.

Britannica

Some have broad moats.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's a fortified manor house, rather than a castle proper, but with a gatehouse that looks like a keep, with battlements and a broad moat - a proper moat, with a river's breadth". At first, he thought his childhood would not be an appealing subject for readers: "Just too posh," he says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It is surrounded by a broad deep moat full of water, and within the moat there is a wall 50 royal cubits wide and 200 high".

The Guardian

"Pfizer's unmatched heft, combined with its broad portfolio of patent-protected drugs, has helped Pfizer build the wide moat around is business," says Conover.

Forbes

The open kitchen forms a broad, taunting moat between the dining room and the windows, one that brims with enough hardware and human activity to block specific portions of those windows and, at least at night, blot out any general sense of the cityscape beyond them.

The New York Times - Food

Below, the broad pathway leading from the surrounding moat and entry gate to the base of the rock fortress passes through a wonderful water garden, about half of which has been restored by archaeologists.

The New York Times - Travel

Most of the analyses I read focus on Amazon's broad advantages — what I'll call "bullet-point moats" — and then evaluate whether each program is replicable by a competing retailer like Walmart.

TechCrunch

More than 350 years have passed since the Swedes forced their neighbours to leave, but the city retains a distinctly Danish feel, with broad, café-edged streets stretching out from a medieval centre with its own moat-ringed Renaissance castle (3).

Independent

Even the cover charms: on the jacket is a Victorian "Map of a Man's Heart," reprinted from McCall's and looking like some jokey geography thought up by Lewis Carroll, with its "Broad Range of Interests," its "Province of Deep Thought," its "Memory of Mother Moat" and "Ravine of the Limited Take-Home".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "broad moats" in a business context, clearly define the specific advantages that constitute these "moats", such as patents, brand recognition, or economies of scale.

Common error

Avoid assuming that simply having a large market share equates to having "broad moats". Ensure genuine, defensible advantages are present that prevent competitors from easily replicating your success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broad moats" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "broad" modifies the noun "moats". Ludwig AI confirms its typical usage in business and historical contexts, describing extensive and defensible advantages.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "broad moats" is a grammatically sound and useful term, primarily employed to describe substantial and defensible advantages. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it commonly appears in business and historical contexts. In business, it signifies robust competitive advantages, while historically, it refers to wide defensive water barriers around castles or fortifications. When using this term, it's essential to specify the nature of the advantages or defenses being described to avoid ambiguity. While the frequency is uncommon, its usage in reputable sources like Encyclopedia Britannica, Forbes, and The Guardian contributes to its credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wide competitive advantages

Focuses on the breadth of advantages a company possesses, highlighting market dominance.

substantial market barriers

Emphasizes the difficulties competitors face when trying to enter the market.

significant defensive advantages

Highlights the strength and importance of a company's defenses against competition.

extensive protective measures

Focuses on the comprehensiveness of actions taken to safeguard a business's position.

deep competitive trenches

Uses a similar metaphor to "moats" but highlights depth and difficulty in overcoming them.

impregnable market position

Stresses the invulnerability of a company's standing in the market.

formidable barriers to entry

Focuses on how difficult it is for new competitors to enter the market.

strong defensive strategies

Highlights the robustness of strategies employed to protect a business.

robust competitive safeguards

Emphasizes the strength and reliability of measures taken to prevent competition.

powerful market dominance

Underlines a company's commanding position and influence in the market.

FAQs

What does "broad moats" mean in a business context?

In business, "broad moats" refers to sustainable competitive advantages that protect a company's market share and profitability from competitors. These can include strong brand recognition, patents, economies of scale, or exclusive access to resources.

How can I identify if a company has "broad moats"?

Assess whether the company possesses long-term competitive advantages that are difficult for competitors to replicate. Look for factors such as strong brand loyalty, proprietary technology, or unique distribution channels.

What are some alternatives to saying "broad moats" in business writing?

You can use alternatives like "significant defensive advantages", "wide competitive advantages", or "formidable barriers to entry" depending on the specific context.

Is the term "broad moats" applicable only to businesses?

While commonly used in business, the concept of "broad moats" can be applied to any situation where a defensive advantage or barrier is present, such as historical fortifications or strategic positioning.