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” has 5 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #2,357. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#2,357
frequency rank, English
4,057
“M” headwords
5
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 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.

Corpus desk

Index EN-mode · mode · English

mode · rank #2,357 · 5 variants · 20 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #2,357
  • LEN-MID 4 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-HIGH 20 pairs
  • VAR-MID 5 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,057
  • PHOTO-FINISH ministry

Nearest frequency peer: ministry (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “mode”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “mode” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

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)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “mode”

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

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “ministry” (#2,356), “neck” (#2,358), “meat” (#2,355). Among 4,057 “M” headwords, “mode” is #2,357. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 5 spelling variants around mode (IPA /moʊd/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #2,357 among 4,057 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 14 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

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.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how mode appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. What was the mode of entry?
  2. An effectual and inexpensive mode of Protecting Wall-Trees from Spring-Frosts.

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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "mode", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 4 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

neck#2,358meat#2,355zero#2,377Alex#2,378

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (5 here; floor ≥5).

jail5 variantspure5 variantswave5 variantsfail5 variants

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list