mode

/moʊd/

//moʊd// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"mode" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“mode” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,357 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,357
frequency rank, English
4
letters
5
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One of several common scales in modern Western music, one of which corresponds to the modern major scale and one to the natural minor scale.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

mode vs mom
50% similar
mode vs MUD
0% similar
mode vs mon
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for mode
PropertyValue
Headwordmode
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/moʊd/
Letters4
Frequency rank#2,357
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “mode” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). mode lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for mode is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /moʊd/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,357 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 14 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for mode, with forms such as "mdoe", "mmode", and "modde". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "mom", "MUD", "mon", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French mode (masculine), from Latin modus (“measure, due measure, rhythm, melody”). Doublet of modus. The correct English form is mode, spelled M-O-D-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    One of several common scales in modern Western music, one of which corresponds to the modern major scale and one to the natural minor scale.
  2. 2
    One of several common scales in modern Western music, one of which corresponds to the modern major scale and one to the natural minor scale.
  3. 3
    A particular means of accomplishing something.
  4. 4
    A particular means of accomplishing something.
  5. 5
    A particular means of accomplishing something.
  6. 6
    A particular means of accomplishing something.
  7. 7
    A particular means of accomplishing something.
  8. 8
    A particular means of accomplishing something.
  9. 9
    A particular means of accomplishing something.
  10. 10
    A particular means of accomplishing something.
  11. 11
    A particular state of being, or frame of mind.
  12. 12
    The most frequently occurring value in a distribution.
  13. 13
    In lace-making, a small decorative piece inserted into a pattern.
  14. 14
    In lace-making, a small decorative piece inserted into a pattern.

Etymology

From Old French mode (masculine), from Latin modus (“measure, due measure, rhythm, melody”). Doublet of modus.

This word in other languages

modo(Español)manière(Français)Art(Deutsch)modo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: mdoe,mmode,modde,moed,omde

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of mode - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

mdoe2mmode1modde1moed2omde2
Edit distance from "mode"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "mode"?
"mode" is spelled M-O-D-E. The IPA pronunciation is /moʊd/.
What does "mode" mean?
As a noun, "mode" means: One of several common scales in modern Western music, one of which corresponds to the modern major scale and one to the natural minor scale.
What words are commonly confused with "mode"?
"mode" is commonly confused with "mom", "MUD", "mon". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "mode"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mode" is /moʊd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "mode"?
From Old French mode (masculine), from Latin modus (“measure, due measure, rhythm, melody”). Doublet of modus. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “mode”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-O-D-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /moʊd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “mom” - see the side-by-side comparison. mode vs mom
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list