Modding

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. This refers to the practice of altering existing digital products to improve them or create new user experiences
2. The act of modifying video games or software to enhance features or introduce new content is commonly recognized in technology circles
3. Engaging in the adaptation of digital environments or objects to customize their functionality and appearance is often referred to in gaming communities

Etymology: Modding is built on "mod," a clipping of "modification." That word comes from Latin "modificare," meaning to keep something within a measure or to change its manner, from "modus" (measure, manner) and "facere" (to make). Shortening "modification" to "mod" gave English a compact noun, and from it came the verb "to mod" and the gerund "modding." In gaming, the noun "mod" refers to a user-made alteration to an existing game, such as new graphics, rules, or levels. The verb and gerund describe the activity of making those changes. The word thus moved from a general term for altering something to a specific term for players reshaping the software they already own.

Synonyms: modification, customization