modus operandi

English

Etymology

(deprecated template usage) Borrowed from Latin modus operandī, from modus (“manner, method”) and operandī (“of working”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈməʊ.dʌs ˌɒp.ə.ɹæn.daɪ/
• IPA^(key): /ˈmɐʉ.dɘs ˌɔp.ɘ.ɹɛn.dɒe/, /ˈmɐʉ.dɘs ˌɔp.ɘ.ɹɛn.di/

Noun

modus operandi (plural modi operandi or modus operandis)

1. (colloquial) A person or thing's normal mode of operation.
   • 2001, Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl, pages 92-93:

     Failing that, if contact was absolutely necessary, a series of thumb jabs to the nerve cluster at the base of the neck would be his chosen modus operandi—quiet as a whisper.

2. (law enforcement) A known criminal's established habits and mode of work when committing specific offences, especially fraud, matched with characteristics of an unsolved crime to narrow down (limit to a specific list) or profile suspects.

Synonyms

• MO

Translations

person or thing's method of operation

• French: modus operandi (fr)
• Georgian: ქმედების ხერხი (kmedebis xerxi)
• German: Modus Operandi (de) m
• Greek: μεθοδολογία δράσης f (methodología drásis), τρόπος δράσης m (trópos drásis)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: modus operandi
• Latin: modus operandi
• Portuguese: modus operandi (pt) m
• Spanish: modus operandi m

habits from a criminal

• Georgian: დანაშაულებრივი ხერხი (današaulebrivi xerxi), დანაშაულებრივი ხერხი (današaulebrivi xerxi), დანაშაულებრივი მოქმედების მეთოდი (današaulebrivi mokmedebis metodi), დანაშაულებრივი მოქმედების ხერხი (današaulebrivi mokmedebis xerxi)
• German: Modus Operandi (de) m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Portuguese: modus operandi (pt) m

---

Cebuano

Etymology

From English modus operandi, borrowed from Latin modus operandī.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: mo‧dus‧o‧pe‧ran‧di

Noun

modus operandi

1. (law enforcement) a modus operandi
2. a person or thing's normal mode of operation

Quotations

For quotations using this term, see Citations:modus operandi.

---

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin modus operandī.

Noun

modus operandi

1. modus operandi

---

Portuguese

Noun

modus operandi m (plural modus operandi or modi operandi)

1. modus operandi (method of operation)

---

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin modus operandī (literally “manner or method of working”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmo.ðus o.peˈɾan.di/

Noun

modus operandi m (plural modus operandi)

1. modus operandi

Related terms

• modus vivendi