modus operandi
[ moh-duh s op-uh-ran-dee, -dahy; Latin moh-doos oh-pe-rahn-dee ]
/ ˈmoʊ dəs ˌɒp əˈræn di, -daɪ; Latin ˈmoʊ dus ˌoʊ pɛˈrɑn di /
noun, plural mo·di op·e·ran·di [moh-dee op-uh-ran-dee, moh-dahy op-uh-ran-dahy; Latin moh-dee oh-pe-rahn-dee] /ˈmoʊ di ˌɒp əˈræn di, ˈmoʊ daɪ ˌɒp əˈræn daɪ; Latin ˈmoʊ di ˌoʊ pɛˈrɑn di/.
mode of operating or working.
Origin of modus operandi
First recorded in 1645–55,
modus operandi is from the Latin word
modus operandī
Words nearby modus operandi
module,
modulo,
modulus,
modulus of elasticity,
modulus of rigidity,
modus operandi,
modus ponens,
modus tollens,
modus vivendi,
moe,
moebius
British Dictionary definitions for modus operandi
modus operandi
/ (ˈməʊdəs ˌɒpəˈrændiː, -ˈrændaɪ) /
noun plural modi operandi (ˈməʊdiː ˌɒpəˈrændiː, ˈməʊdaɪ ˌɒpəˈrændaɪ)
procedure; method of operating
Word Origin for modus operandi
C17: from Latin
Cultural definitions for modus operandi
modus operandi
[ (moh-duhs op-uh-ran-dee, op-uh-ran-deye) ]
The way someone does something; a characteristic method: “Her modus operandi in buying a new car always included a month of research.” This phrase, often abbreviated “m.o.,” is used by police to describe a criminal's characteristic way of committing a crime. From Latin, meaning “method of operation.”