English

Noun

modus operandi ‎(plural modi operandi)

1. (colloquial) A person or thing's normal mode of operation.
2. (law enforcement) A 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.

Quotations

• 2001 — Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl, p 92-93

  Failing that, if contact was absolutely necessary, a series of thumb jabs to the nerve cluster at the base of the neck would be his chosen modus operandi—quiet as a whisper.

Synonyms

• MO

Translations

Italian

Etymology

Latin

Noun

modus operandi

1. modus operandi

Portuguese

Noun

modus operandi m (plural modus operandi or modi operandi)

1. modus operandi (method of operation)

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin modus operandī ‎(literally “manner or method of working”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmo.ðus o.peˈɾan.di/

Noun

modus operandi m ‎(plural modus operandi)

1. modus operandi

Related terms

• modus vivendi