Modeled

Modeled is the past tense of model, meaning to create a representation of something or to imitate or plan something. It commonly refers to making a physical model, a computational or mathematical model, or any representation used for study, testing, or demonstration. The term can also function as an adjective in phrases such as modeled data or modeled behavior, indicating that a representation or proposal was derived from a model rather than observed directly. Phrases such as “modeled after” indicate imitation of an existing object or work.

Usage spans many fields. In engineering and product design, engineers model structures and systems to predict performance before fabrication. In science, researchers model phenomena such as climate, epidemics, or mechanical processes to explore outcomes under different assumptions. In statistics and data science, a dataset or process may be modeled by fitting a model, with past tense often used as “the data were modeled.” In the arts, modeling can also refer to shaping materials or posing a subject for a figure or sculpture.

Spelling and variants. American English typically uses modeled, while British English often uses modelled, with the latter occasionally featuring a double consonant depending on the style guide. Both forms are correct depending on variant; consistency within a document is advised.

Etymology. The term derives from model, from Old French modele and ultimately from Latin modulus, meaning a standard or measure. The word has expanding usage as technology and analytics increasingly rely on representations of real-world systems.