Mode Is the Value That Appears Most Often
A mode is a way of doing something. In statistics it has a precise and separate meaning.
A mode is a way or manner of doing something, a setting on a device, or a fashion. In statistics it is the most frequently occurring value in a set, and it is the only one of the three averages that works on non-numerical data: you can find the mode of a list of colours, but not the mean. The word comes from Latin *modus*, a measure or manner, which also gives *moderate*, *modify*, *modest* and *model*. French took the same word as *mode*, fashion, and English borrowed it twice.
- A manner or way. *Mode of transport.*
- A device setting. *Night mode.*
- The commonest value. *The mode.*
- Fashion. *In mode.*
- Latin — *modus*, a measure. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mode | A mode. |
| Plural | modes | Modes. |
| Adjective | modal | Modal. |
| Related | modify | To modify. |
| Latin | modus | A measure. |
- Switch it to airplane mode.Setting.
- The mode is the commonest value.Statistics.
- Modus means measure.Etymology.
The three averages
- Mean — the total divided by the count
- Median — the middle value when sorted
- Mode — the value that occurs most often
- Only the mode works on categories rather than numbers
- A set can have two modes, or none at all
Latin *modus*, a measure, manner or way, partly through French *mode*, fashion.
What is the mode in statistics?
The value that appears most often. It is the only average that can be found for non-numerical data such as colours or names.
Is mode related to modify?
Yes. Both come from Latin modus, a measure or manner, along with moderate, modest and model.