modus operandi

noun mo·dus ope·ran·di \ ˌmō-dəs-ˌä-pə-ˈran-dē , -ˌdī \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of modus operandi

plural modi operandi play \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

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

See modus operandi defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of modus operandi from the Web

This turned out to be a rather neat summary of his modus operandi as a businessman.

— steve almond, Longreads, "My Own ‘Bad Story’: I Thought Journalism Would Make a Hero of Me," 3 Apr. 2018
If the witnesses' experiences are similar to Constand's, Dempsey added, then the jury may see a pattern, or modus operandi, in Cosby's acts.

— eric levenson, CNN, "Bill Cosby is on trial again. But a lot has changed since his mistrial last year," 31 Mar. 2018
The Semi also demonstrates what seems to be Tesla's modus operandi: build new businesses based on markets tangential to your area of expertise.

— megan geuss, Ars Technica, "Reader pics show Tesla Semi on I-680, en route from Gigafactory to Fremont," 9 Mar. 2018
Not necessarily, but that’s been his regular-season modus operandi for years.

— staff report, San Antonio Express-News, "Writers’ roundtable: How far can Spurs go if Leonard regains form?," 9 Mar. 2018
Blasnek said the modus operandi of the men seems similar to what deputies have seen in recent La Cañada burglaries, but more work needs to be done.

— sara cardine, latimes.com, "Jessen Drive traffic stop leads to arrest of 3 men found with burglary tools," 8 Mar. 2018
Reynolds Woodcock might be described as the king of the mansplainers, and his modus operandi with women is chilly and manipulative and waged against those who don’t have a chance of taking him down a peg.

— julie hinds, Detroit Free Press, "Sorry, Daniel Day-Lewis, but I'm not accepting your resignation after 'Phantom Thread'," 12 Jan. 2018
The same way that appearing effortless is a fashion insider’s modus operandi, not trying too hard is the key to a designer’s success in 2018.

— emilia petrarca, The Cut, "Community Was a Radical Act at New York Fashion Week," 16 Feb. 2018
Indeed, absent accountability and punishment, the new modus operandi would be for any lame- duck incumbent administration to use federal agencies to enhance the campaign of its own party’s nominee.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "Scandal, Corruption, Lawbreaking — And So What?," 13 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'modus operandi.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.