Definition of modus operandi
: 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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for modus operandi
The first known use of modus operandi was in 1654
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