modus operandi
noun
mo·dus ope·ran·di
ˌmō-dəs-ˌä-pə-ˈran-dē 
-ˌdī
plural modi operandi
ˈmō-ˌdē-
ˈmō-ˌdī-
: a method of procedure
the best approach … was to do things through quiet persuasion, which was his modus operandi—
James Traub
James Traub
especially
: a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates or suggests the work of a single criminal in more than one crime
got her picture identified, discovered her modus operandi, and put a stakeout on her neighborhood —Time
Time Examples of modus operandi in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The attack modus operandi involves the use of fraudulent emergency data requests, which can request information to be supplied immediately by a business while bypassing additional reviews of the request for legitimacy, courtesy of their urgent nature, in order to expose sensitive information.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
The modus operandi was for cars to transport the drugs to within a mile of the border, where individuals would carry them into Jordan in backpacks.
—Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Because many sustainability leaders come up the ranks from technical backgrounds, their modus operandi is to get all the data, interpret it and then come up with a set of initiatives.
—Jody L. Bickel, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
That will be her modus operandi from this point forward.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for modus operandi 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Davey Winder, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
The modus operandi was for cars to transport the drugs to within a mile of the border, where individuals would carry them into Jordan in backpacks.
—Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Because many sustainability leaders come up the ranks from technical backgrounds, their modus operandi is to get all the data, interpret it and then come up with a set of initiatives.
—Jody L. Bickel, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
That will be her modus operandi from this point forward.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for modus operandi
Dictionary Entries Near modus operandi
Cite this Entry
“Modus operandi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modus%20operandi. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
modus operandi
noun
mo·dus ope·ran·di
ˌmō-dəs-ˌä-pə-ˈran-dē, -ˌdī
: a distinct pattern or method of operation especially that indicates or suggests the work of a single criminal in more than one crime
Etymology
New Latin, manner of operating
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share