modus operandi
/ˈməʊ.dʌs ɒp.ə.ˌɹæn.daɪ/
"modus-operandi" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“modus operandi” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 14
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A person or thing's normal mode of operation.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | modus operandi |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈməʊ.dʌs ɒp.ə.ˌɹæn.daɪ/ |
| Letters | 14 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “modus operandi” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for modus operandi is 14 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈməʊ.dʌs ɒp.ə.ˌɹæn.daɪ/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
No misspelling variants are generated for modus operandi in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.
Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin modus operandī, from modus (“manner, method”) and operandī (“of working”). The correct English form is modus operandi, spelled M-O-D-U-S- -O-P-E-R-A-N-D-I.
Definition
- 1A person or thing's normal mode of operation.
- 2A 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.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin modus operandī, from modus (“manner, method”) and operandī (“of working”).
Synonyms
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “modus operandi”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is M-O-D-U-S- -O-P-E-R-A-N-D-I - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈməʊ.dʌs ɒp.ə.ˌɹæn.daɪ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- 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.