bimodal
|bi-mo-dal|
🇺🇸
/baɪˈmoʊdəl/
🇬🇧
/baɪˈməʊdəl/
having two modes / two peaks
Etymology
'bimodal' originates from the prefix 'bi-' and the adjective 'modal'. 'bi-' ultimately comes from Latin 'bis' meaning 'twice', and 'modal' is based on English 'mode', from Latin 'modus' meaning 'measure, manner'.
'bimodal' was formed in modern English by combining the prefix 'bi-' + the adjective-forming element from 'mode' ('modal'). The noun 'mode' entered English via Old French 'mode' from Latin 'modus', and 'modal' developed from 'mode' + the suffix '-al'.
Initially it literally meant 'having two modes'; over time it became a technical term in statistics for distributions with two peaks and has been extended to other domains to mean 'having two distinct modes'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having two modes; (statistics) describing a distribution with two distinct peaks or local maxima in frequency.
The dataset is bimodal, showing peaks around 20 and 70.
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Adjective 2
having or operating in two distinct modes or forms (for example, two methods of delivery, operation, or expression).
The conference adopted a bimodal format, allowing both in-person and online participation.
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Last updated: 2025/09/09 14:55