noun

modal

MOH-dul

Modal (noun) means In software and web design, a window or box that opens on top of a page and blocks interaction with everything behind it until you close it or respond. Example: “Clicking the button opens a modal asking you to confirm.”

noun

computing In software and web design, a window or box that opens on top of a page and blocks interaction with everything behind it until you close it or respond.

"Clicking the button opens a modal asking you to confirm."

"Close the modal by pressing Escape."

grammar In grammar, an auxiliary verb such as can, may, must, should or would, which expresses possibility, permission, obligation or necessity.

"Modals are followed by the bare infinitive, as in 'she must go'."

"English has nine core modals."

adjective

Relating to a mode or manner of doing something; in statistics, relating to the mode, the most frequently occurring value in a set.

"The modal age of a first-time buyer is now thirty-four."

"Modal logic deals with necessity and possibility."

How to Use Modal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA box that pops up and blocks the page until you deal with it, or a helper verb like can or must.

When to use it

Meaning depends entirely on field: computing, grammar or statistics.

Memory tip

Modal has one L and is not the same word as model.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

model → module → popup

Common pairings

open a modal modal window modal verb modal value modal class

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Clicking the button opens a _____ asking you to confirm.

Etymology

From medieval Latin modalis, from Latin modus 'measure, manner, mode'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

dialog dialogue box lightbox popup modal verb modal auxiliary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a modal and a popup?

A modal blocks the rest of the interface until you deal with it, so you must close or answer it before continuing. A popup is a looser term for any window that appears over content, including ones you can simply ignore.

What are the modal verbs in English?

The core modals are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would. Semi-modals such as ought to, need and dare behave similarly but not identically.

What does modal mean in statistics?

It means relating to the mode, the value that appears most often in a data set. The modal class in a frequency table is the group with the highest count.