WordLens

modal

1 of 2adjective
/ˈmoʊdəl/
1

pertaining to or representing the most frequently occurring value in a statistical distribution

  • The modal score on the test was 85.
  • Analysts calculated the modal income of the population.
  • The survey reported the modal response to the question.
  • Mode and median were compared with the modal value.
  • The data set's modal category was highlighted in the chart.
Synonyms:
2

relating to the grammatical mood of verbs, expressing modality such as necessity, possibility, or obligation

  • She studied the modal forms in the sentence.
  • The teacher explained modal usage in conditional statements.
  • "Can" and "must" are common modal verbs.
  • Linguists analyze modal structures across languages.
  • The exercise focused on identifying modal verbs.
3

pertaining to a musical mode, especially in ecclesiastical compositions

  • The choir performed a modal composition from the Renaissance period.
  • Gregorian chants are modal in nature.
  • The piece features modal scales rather than major or minor.
  • Composers of the Baroque period often used modal harmony.
  • The study focused on modal characteristics in early music.