modal shift

noun

A shift in prevalence from one mode of transport to another.

“Parts of the UK are experiencing a modal shift towards non-motorized transport.”

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Meanings

nounmodal shift (plural modal shifts)

plural modal shifts

  1. transportA shift in prevalence from one mode of transport to another.

    Parts of the UK are experiencing a modal shift towards non-motorized transport.

    1 more example

    Rail is clearly a more sustainable option, and the demographic of the population living in the areas served by the new stations certainly seems to be a good fit when it comes to modal shift.

    2025 October 1, Peter Plisner, “Closing in on Camp Hill reopening”, in RAIL, number 1045, pages 46-47

Origin

Compound of modal (“pertaining to modes (of transport)”) + shift.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

modal shift. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/modal%20shift

MLA

“modal shift.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/modal%20shift. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “modal shift,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/modal%20shift.

Source: modal shift on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.