modus operandi
Habitual working pattern
Modus operandi is a characteristic method of working—the habitual way someone does things, especially in committing crimes.
Detectives study a criminal's modus operandi to identify patterns: The burglaries matched his modus operandi—always through skylights, always on rainy nights.
Often shortened to M.O. and used more broadly for anyone's typical approach: Her M.O. is to arrive early and leave late.
Registered commercial identifier
- hallmarkDistinguishing characteristic or mark
- characteristicDistinguishing quality or trait
- distinctiveReadily identifiable, set apart
- recognizableAble to be identified
telltale · identifying · style · fingerprint · calling-card · marker · pattern · unique
Skilled way of performing
- approachWay of handling something
- systemConnected parts forming whole
- processSteps toward a result
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
procedure · workflow · routine · practice · formula · blueprint · mechanism · execution
Scientific crime-scene analysis
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- profilingCharacterizing by patterns
- suspectBelieve to be likely
perpetrator · evidence · pattern · signature · case · serial · methodology · tracking
Regular sequence of actions
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- behaviorManner of conducting oneself
- tendencyInclination toward a behavior
- customHabitual group practice
practice · ritual · propensity · inclination · predictable · characteristic · typical · usual
Methods to achieve goals
- approachWay of handling something
- gameplanPredetermined course of action
- playbookDocumented set of tactics
- calculatedFigured out mathematically
deliberate · planning · scheme · maneuver · systematic · coordinated · execution · operational
trademark
Registered commercial identifier
- hallmarkDistinguishing characteristic or mark
- characteristicDistinguishing quality or trait
- distinctiveReadily identifiable, set apart
recognizable · telltale · identifying · style · fingerprint · calling-card · marker · pattern · unique · personal
technique
Skilled way of performing
protocol · procedure · workflow · routine · practice · formula · blueprint · mechanism · execution · standard
forensics
Scientific crime-scene analysis
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- profilingCharacterizing by patterns
suspect · perpetrator · evidence · pattern · signature · case · serial · methodology · tracking · identification
routine
Regular sequence of actions
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- behaviorManner of conducting oneself
- tendencyInclination toward a behavior
custom · practice · ritual · propensity · inclination · predictable · characteristic · typical · usual · consistent
tactics
Methods to achieve goals
- approachWay of handling something
- gameplanPredetermined course of action
- playbookDocumented set of tactics
calculated · deliberate · planning · scheme · maneuver · systematic · coordinated · execution · operational · deployment
- crime investigationdetective, whodunit, investigation, detectives, investigator
- methodsmethod, approach, way, technique, procedure
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- Latin Termsa priori, ab initio, ad hoc, ad lib, bona fide
- Latin Wordsad, ad nauseam, et, caveat emptor, affidavit
- Latin phrasesE pluribus unum, carpe diem, caveat emptor, veni vidi vici, ad astra
modus operandiimprovisation
Spontaneous, unplanned creation
spontaneity · winging it · playing it by ear · randomness · ad-libbing
modus operandiunpredictability
State resisting forecasts
erratic behavior · inconsistency · randomness · irregularity · anomaly
mode, module, modulate, modes, modulation, modal, modality, modus, modalities