modular
gb/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ/ us/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ/
B2
English
~ 8300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
Made of separate interchangeable units
Made of separate parts that you can join, move, or change easily.
Usage pattern:
a modular [thing]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "modular" with "modern" and use it to mean simply "new" or "up to date". "Modular" always involves the idea of separate parts or units that can be combined or changed. Another mistake is using it as a noun (*"a modular"*) instead of as an adjective before a noun (*"a modular system"*).
Synonyms
component-based (Emphasizes that something is built from distinct components, often in technical or design contexts.)
|
flexible (Highlights the ease of change or adjustment, but does not specifically imply separate physical units.)
Antonyms
monolithic (Suggests something is formed as one single block or unit, not easily broken into independent parts.)
Collocations
modular design
|modular system
|modular furniture
|modular home
|modular course
|modular architecture
Themes
design
|technology
|architecture
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company uses a modular design so customers can add new features without buying a whole new product.
- We chose modular furniture for the office so we can reconfigure the space as the team grows.
- Their new modular home was built in sections at a factory and then assembled on-site.
- The course is modular, allowing students to complete individual units at their own pace.
- A modular system makes it easier to repair or upgrade only the parts that are outdated.
Learner examples
- We bought modular shelves and moved the parts to fit our small room.
- The school offers a modular program, so students can take one part at a time.
- This phone has a modular camera that you can change for a better one.
adjective
technical
C1
property
2
Relating to arithmetic with a modulus
In math, about a way of counting where numbers are compared by their remainders after dividing by a fixed number.
Usage pattern:
modular [mathematical term]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "modular arithmetic" just means "advanced" or "complex" arithmetic. It specifically refers to arithmetic done with respect to a modulus, focusing on remainders. Another confusion is mixing up "modular" with "modulo"; "modulo" usually appears in phrases like "a is congruent to b modulo n", while "modular" is used as an adjective before nouns like "arithmetic" or "equation".
Collocations
modular arithmetic
|modular equation
|modular function
|modular form
Themes
mathematics
|science
|education
Examples
- In modular arithmetic, 17 and 5 are equal modulo 12 because they leave the same remainder when divided by 12.
- The cryptosystem is based on modular exponentiation with very large prime numbers.
- Students were introduced to modular arithmetic to understand how digital clocks represent time.
- The theorem plays a central role in the theory of modular forms.
- Modular equations often arise in number theory problems involving congruences.
Learner examples
- In modular arithmetic, 10 and 2 can be the same when we work with a base of 8.
- Computer scientists often use modular arithmetic when they design hash functions.
- We learned how to add numbers in modular arithmetic using a clock as an example.
Grammar
Dictionary form
modular
IPA
GB/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ/
US/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ/
Syllables & stress
mod - u - lar (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mod)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: modular
Word family
Core family
module
noun B1
Related words
modularize
verb C1
modularity
noun
Negative and opposite forms
nonmodular
adjective
Advanced or less common
modularization
noun
Expressions
modular approach
1/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ əpɹˈoʊt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
Method based on separate modules
A way of doing a project by dividing it into smaller, separate parts that can be worked on and changed more easily.
Examples
- They took a modular approach to the project so different teams could work on separate parts at the same time.
- Using a modular approach makes it easier to replace one part of the system without affecting the rest.
modular arithmetic
1/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ ɚˈɪθmətˌɪk/
fixed phrase
technical
Arithmetic using a fixed modulus
A kind of math where we only care about the remainders when numbers are divided by the same number.
Examples
- Digital clocks are a simple example of modular arithmetic with base 12 or 24.
- The professor explained how modular arithmetic is used in modern cryptography.
modular course
1/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ kˈɔɹs/
fixed phrase
Course divided into independent units
A study program that is split into separate parts, so students can take one part at a time or in a different order.
Examples
- The university offers a modular course so working adults can study one unit each term.
- In a modular course, you can repeat only the units you failed instead of the whole year.
modular design
1/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ dɪzˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
Design using standard interchangeable units
A way of designing things using separate standard parts that you can join or move to change the product.
Examples
- The modular design of the laptop lets users upgrade the memory and storage easily.
- Good modular design helps companies adapt products quickly to new customer needs.
modular furniture
1/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ fˈɚnɪt͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
Furniture in movable units
Furniture that comes in separate pieces so you can change the shape or layout, like a sofa you can move into different forms.
Examples
- The living room is filled with modular furniture that can be rearranged for parties or movie nights.
- We chose modular furniture for the kids' room so it can change as they grow.
modular home
1/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ hˈoʊm/
fixed phrase
House built from prefabricated modules
A house that is built in large parts in a factory and then moved and put together at the final place.
Examples
- They bought a modular home because it was faster and cheaper than building a traditional house.
- Modular homes can be expanded later by adding extra rooms as new modules.
modular system
1/mˈɔd͡ʒulɚ sˈɪstəm/
fixed phrase
System made of independent modules
A system that is built from separate parts that can be added, removed, or changed without breaking the whole system.
Examples
- A modular system allows the IT team to update one service without shutting down everything.
- Their heating is part of a modular system that can be expanded to include cooling later.