MOD

What Does Mod Mean in a Text?

Gaming Slang for Newbies

If you're new to gaming, then there is more to learn than just a game's moves and strategy. Gamers should also be familiar with gaming slang, which has around 200 terms in common usage, many of which are difficult for new players to guess. But, you should persevere. Understanding gaming jargon improves collaboration by helping gamers to convey complex strategies, emotions, and actions quickly. Here is the term you care about:

Mod means "modification" and "modernist."

Modification

The term mod is widely used with the meaning "modification" to refer to changes made by a user or owner to a program, object or device, in order to change its appearance or function. In gaming, many players apply Mods to games to customize the game play or look, to remove glitches, or to provide additional functionality (including, in some cases, features that were not available in the original game). Such mods can be shared, which has helped to make game creators out of some players. For example:

Jo: How are you getting on with your new game?
Ali: I completed it in a week. I've decided to write a mod to improve the look and the game play.
Jo: Geek alert!
Ali: You taught me how to mod!

Some game developers actively encourage players to mod their games. Bethesda, the developers of "Skyrim" and "Fallout 4," hold competitions to find the best Mods to their games. Some of those mods are subsequently included in future releases.

Modernist

The term mod is also widely used with the meaning "modernist." In this context, mod refers to a subculture that began in the UK in 1958 and spread throughout various countries, including the US, during the 1960s. For example:

Ali: Are you all set for the Isle of Wight rally?
Sam: Yep. I've made some mods to the Vespa and it should get us there. Fingers crossed!
Ali: Brill! I love it when the mods and the Scooter Boys get together!

The original Mod scene focused on music, fashion and motor scooters (usually from the Italian makers Lambretta and Vespa). It experienced a brief revival in UK in the 1970s and 1980s, when it spawned the less well-known Scooter Boys subculture. It continues today on a small scale in both the UK and US.

Image for Mod

When I write Mod, I mean this:

"Modification"

Summary of Key Points for First Definition

"Modification is a common definition for Mod on gaming apps such as Discord, TeamSpeak and Telegram, as well as on messaging apps like Instagram.

Mod
Definition:	Modification
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults, Teenagers, and Under 13s

Summary of Key Points for Second Definition

"Modernist" is another common definition for Mod.

Mod
Definition:	Modernist
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults

An Academic Look at Mod

Mod is a shortened version of the words "modification" and "modernist," therefore it is a contraction. Contractions can be formed formed in a number of ways, including:

Omitting letters from the word (e.g., mod, pct from percent, obv from obviously).
Using letters from the start and end of the word (e.g., Dr from Doctor).
Using an apostrophe to replace a letter or letters (e.g., don't from do not, can't from cannot).