modality

American  

[moh-dal-i-tee] / moʊˈdæl ɪ ti /

noun

• modalities
  plural

1. the quality or state of being modal.

2. an attribute or circumstance that denotes mode or manner.

3. Also called mode. Logic. the classification of propositions according to whether they are contingently true or false, possible, impossible, or necessary.

4. Medicine/Medical. the application of a therapeutic agent, usually a physical therapeutic agent.

5. one of the primary forms of sensation, as vision or touch.

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modality British  

/ məʊˈdælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being modal

2. a quality, attribute, or circumstance that denotes mode, mood, or manner

3. logic the property of a statement of being classified under one of the concepts studied by modal logic, esp necessity or possibility

4. any physical or electrical therapeutic method or agency

5. any of the five senses

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• multimodality
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• modalities
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of modality

From the Medieval Latin word modālitās, dating back to 1610–20. See modal, -ity

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Explanation

A modality is the way or mode in which something exists or is done. You might often see it used with reference to diagnostic modality, which is the way in which a disease or illness is diagnosed by a doctor. Modality shares its root with the word mode, meaning "the way in which something happens or is experienced." A sensory modality is a way of sensing, like vision or hearing. Modality in someone's voice gives a sense of the person's mood. In logic, modality has to do with whether a proposition is necessary, possible, or impossible. In general, a modality is a particular way in which something exists.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

modality modalities

Moderna and Merck’s promising new cancer vaccine signals the arrival of an exciting new treatment modality.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

A handful of firms pursuing quantum computers use the same modality, such as Google, Rigetti Computing and D-Wave Quantum.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

While not affiliated with any specific modality, the sound bath inside the Atwater Village branch of Mattress Central has a cult-like following.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2026

The modality put D-Wave on the map for being markedly different than that of peers, but it’s best suited for optimization tasks.

From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026

Further, the Logos is not cut off and separated from God, nor is he a mere modality in him.

From History of Dogma, Volume 2 (of 7) by Neil Buchanan

That strength ends up spilling over, to some degree, to other truck modalities, such as refrigerated trucks and dry-van trucking, he said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026

The experience inspired him to learn other healing modalities, including breath work and sound meditation: the latter of which reignited his musical appreciation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

"We will be working on the modalities - dates, procedures, places - very soon."

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

Given that multiple quantum modalities could co-exist in the future, “suppliers with exposure to multiple modalities could present more diversified risk profiles,” the firm wrote.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

But though all of these primordial modalities appear in each concept and in all artistic manifestations, the proportion in which each appears is indefinitely variable.

From Delsarte System of Oratory by Various

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