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• mo
  mo

  noun

  moment.
• Mo
  Mo

  molybdenum.
• MO
  MO

  abbreviation

  method of operation.
• -mo
  -mo

  a suffix occurring in a series of compounds that describe book sizes according to the number of leaves formed by the folding of a single sheet of paper.
• mo.
  mo.

  abbreviation

  month.
• Mo.
  Mo.

  abbreviation

  Missouri.
• m.o.
  m.o.

  abbreviation

  mail order.
• M.O.
  M.O.

  abbreviation

  mail order.

mo

¹ American  

[moh] / moʊ /

noun

Informal.

1. moment.

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Mo ² American  

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. molybdenum.

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MO ³ American  

abbreviation

1. method of operation.

2. Missouri (approved especially for use with zip code).

3. mode of operation.

4. modus operandi.

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-mo ⁴ American  

1. a suffix occurring in a series of compounds that describe book sizes according to the number of leaves formed by the folding of a single sheet of paper.

   sixteenmo.

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mo. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

• mos
  plural

1. month.

2. months.

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Mo. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. Missouri.

2. Monday.

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m.o. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. mail order.

2. modus operandi.

3. money order.

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M.O. ⁸ American  

abbreviation

1. mail order.

2. manually operated.

3. Medical Officer.

4. method of operation.

5. mode of operation.

6. modus operandi.

7. money order.

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MO ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Missouri

2. Medical Officer

3. modus operandi

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mo ² British  

/ məʊ /

noun

1. short for moment

2. short for moustache

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m.o. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. mail order

2. money order

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Mo ⁴ British  

symbol

1. molybdenum

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Mo. ⁵ British  

abbreviation

1. Missouri

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-mo ⁶ British  

suffix

1. (in bookbinding) indicating book size by specifying the number of leaves formed by folding one sheet of paper

   12mo, twelvemo, or duodecimo

   16mo or sixteenmo

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mo ⁷ British  

abbreviation

1. Macau

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Usage

What else does MO mean? MO—it's a multifunctional set of letters. MO is commonly used as an abbreviation for modus operandi, meaning “mode of operating or working.” It’s also commonly a postal abbreviation for Missouri. You may not always encounter mo in uppercase letters in informal contexts in digital communication. So, two other widespread, popular uses of mo you may encounter are: Mo, a guy’s name, and mo, a dialectical pronunciation of more. In the U. K. and other English-speaking places around the world, mo is a slang shortening of the word moment. How is MO pronounced?[ em-oh ] or [ moh ]What are some variants of MO?or M. O. or mo' or moWhat are some other words related to MO?

• more
• modus operandi
• Missouri

Etymology

Origin of mo¹

By shortening

Origin of -mo⁴

Combining form extracted from duodecimo

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mo Mo MO mo. Mo. m.o. M.O.

I have the Tongan seal and motto “Ko e ʻOtua mo Tonga ko hoku tofiʻa,” which means “God and Tonga are my inheritance,” tattooed on my left arm.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2023

It can do all the modes that matter in terms of 4K and slow mo and handles them all super well.

From The Verge ● Sep. 21, 2021

But it’s the mo hanh, caramelized scallions and scallion-flavored oil, that make this banh mi sing.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 3, 2020

Looks like they’re ganging up trying to make an honest man out of me, a lo mo, natural born hustler!

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 2, 2019

I was almost in with only one thing on my mind when something mo vet in the cobhouse door.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck

Whether he is pulling a pint, tossing a builder's helmet in the air or running with Olympic medallist Mo Farah, the UK's new prime minister Andy Burnham has embraced social media with a deft touch.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

In recent weeks, officers have broadened their approach to make more arrests near gates and ticket counters at airports from San Francisco to Miami and Kansas City, Mo.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Egyptian Mo Salah recently signed off on a hugely successful nine years at Liverpool, and the Dutch squad includes three Reds' regulars including captain Virgil van Dijk.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

But this turn doesn’t define Mo or his overall arc, which tightly focuses on the constant hustle, creativity and sense of humor required to survive as an immigrant in this country.

From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026

Before Mo got too old for it, we used to pretend Central Park was the dreaded Cedar Forest, home to all the great demons.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Altria MO 0.59%increase; green up pointing triangle posted higher sales in the first quarter as higher pricing offset lower volumes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

Back in April, Walmart announced that it was in the process of removing self-checkouts and returning to regular checkouts in its store in Shrewsbury, MO, a suburb of St. Louis.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2024

But the specific deal with Alonso, a free agent after this season, would be a departure from the Mariners’ typical MO under Jerry Dipoto.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 1, 2024

“Mars doesn’t give up its secrets easily—that’s been its MO for years,” Dreier says.

From Scientific American ● May 9, 2023

“Oh, big surprise. Maddie’s running away! That’s your MO anytime you come across something you don’t know how to handle.”

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

“It’s key that need for reform is understood, but we don’t need 6 mo. of study,” he wrote.

From New York Times ● Oct. 22, 2020

Coursers competed for three stakes: the Sapling, for hounds under 16 mo.; the Futurity, for those under 22 mo.; the Derby, an all-age event which is called the Waterloo at the Coursing Association's autumn meet.

From Time Magazine Archive

Poor St. Louis, mo. everyone has a tear or two for gritty cities facing hard times--for the Detroits, the Clevelands--but who spares a thought for the elegant dowager reduced to reusing tea bags?

From Time Magazine Archive

Put a baby's clothes over him feet first until he reaches 6 mo. to keep him from growing up stunted.

From Time Magazine Archive

Cloth binding with four color inlay, square 16 mo., 50c.

From Games For All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Production of the Stone portfolio will gradually transition to Firestone Walker’s brewery in Paso Robles, Calif., and Duvel USA’s Boulevard brewery in Kansas City, Mo., the joint statement said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

The elder Iwerks met fellow artist Walt Disney when both men were teenagers working at a Kansas City, Mo., art studio.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

Dutch visitor Max van Regteren saved by renting a car with his childhood friend instead of paying for flights between Houston and Kansas City, Mo., to attend their matches.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

Voters in Festus, Mo., ousted four city council members a week after they approved a $6 billion data center.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

“The Singh kid hasn’t coughed up yet,” said Mo. “You’ll have to find him.”

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

And causing other people’s pain is not in my m.o.

From Salon ● May 2, 2019

It’s a shame not to hear the instrument more, but there are moments when the vocals-heavy m.o. makes sense.

From New York Times ● Aug. 24, 2018

Its m.o., sour beers and Neapolitan-style pizza, continues at the new Fremont location, but there will be an extensive fresh-pasta menu, sandwiches, tacos and a full bar with a biodynamic wine program.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 4, 2017

“You saw exactly the m.o. of what David would love to have,” Helton said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 28, 2017

Yeah, that’s always been our m.o., is that we always do stuff we like.

From Slate ● Mar. 16, 2015

"I feel like in my career I've won on tough golf courses generally, so that's my M.O., I would say," said 2025 Masters runner-up Rose, who led by a shot after an opening-round 62.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

Bending Spoons’ M.O. is apparent from even a cursory look at its portfolio and record.

From Slate ● Jan. 23, 2026

Whether she’s being herself or playing Leslie Knope, Poehler’s M.O. has long been catching more flies with honey than vinegar.

From Salon ● Jan. 16, 2026

With its slow pacing, shaky handheld cameras, dishwater cinematography and unnervingly extreme closeups, it feels more like an intense indie drama than a whimsical tale of a robber with a peculiar M.O.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025

We found the road dotted with dead mules and horses, but could not find the M.O. for some time.

From The Incomparable 29th and the "River Clyde" by George Davidson

Related Words

• rule of thumb