noun
modus operandi
MOH-duhs op-uh-RAN-dee
Modus operandi (noun) means the particular way in which a person or organisation habitually does something, especially a pattern recognisable across repeated occasions. Example: “Detectives linked the burglaries by their modus operandi.”
noun
1
The particular way in which a person or organisation habitually does something, especially a pattern recognisable across repeated occasions.
"Detectives linked the burglaries by their modus operandi."
"Undercutting rivals and buying them out is the firm's usual modus operandi."
How to use modus operandi
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe usual way somebody goes about doing something.
When to use it
Formal or journalistic; the short form MO is more common in speech.
Memory tip
Keep it as two words and do not add an apostrophe: the killer's modus operandi, not modus operandi's.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
the same modus operandi
a classic modus operandi
change his modus operandi
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Detectives linked the burglaries by their _____.
Etymology
Latin, literally 'way of operating', from modus 'manner' and operandi, the gerund of operari 'to work'.
Rhymes for modus operandi
See all rhymes for modus operandi →Frequently asked questions
What does MO stand for?
MO is the standard abbreviation of modus operandi, used especially in policing and journalism. 'The thief's MO was to pose as a delivery driver' means that was his usual method.
What is the plural of modus operandi?
Modi operandi, following the Latin. It is rare in everyday writing, and many people avoid it by rewriting the sentence.
What is the difference between modus operandi and modus vivendi?
A modus operandi is how someone habitually operates. A modus vivendi is a practical arrangement that lets two parties who disagree carry on side by side, more like a working truce.
What is the meaning of modus operandi?
"modus operandi" (noun) means the particular way in which a person or organisation habitually does something, especially a pattern recognisable across repeated occasions.
