what does mean

USAGE SUMMARY

"what does mean" is not correct and usable in written English.
It should be written as "what does that mean?" Example: I'm not sure what you meant by "it's a red herring," so could you explain what does that mean?.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"She knows what does mean and what does take to be an Olympic champion.

The New York Times - Sports

Pansexuality rejects both sexual and gender classification, but what does mean in practice?

BBC

But what does mean something is the methodical march downward of his poll popularity among the group that put him over the top; namely, non-college degree, blue collar and rural white males.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

What do mean busy?

The New York Times

You say, what do you mean what does it mean.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What does Conatus mean?

The New York Times

What does "succulent" mean?

The Economist

What does she mean?

Independent

"What does freedom mean?

The New York Times

"What does retirement mean?

The New York Times

What does "better" mean?

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, prefer specific inquiries such as "What is the definition of..." or "What does this term imply?" over general fragments.

Common error

Writers sometimes translate directly from languages where the subject can be omitted (pro-drop languages), resulting in "what does mean". In English, the auxiliary verb 'does' requires an explicit subject following it in a question. Ensure you write "What does it mean?" rather than the shortened fragment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what does mean" functions as an incomplete interrogative fragment. According to Ludwig AI, it lacks the required subject that must follow the auxiliary verb "does" in English syntax. While it appears in some transcripts from The New York Times and BBC, it is usually a representation of non-native speech or a slip of the tongue.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while you may encounter "what does mean" in various media transcripts or academic records of spoken language, it is grammatically incorrect as a standalone written phrase. Ludwig AI highlights that the primary issue is the omission of a subject between the auxiliary verb "does" and the main verb "mean". For clear and professional communication, always use a placeholder like "it" or "that", or name the specific word you are inquiring about. Phrases like "what does that mean" or "what is the meaning of" are much more appropriate across all levels of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what does that mean

Adds a demonstrative pronoun to refer to a specific preceding statement

what does it mean

Uses the dummy pronoun 'it' to make the question grammatically complete

what does the word mean

Specifies that the object of inquiry is a particular word

what is the meaning of

A more formal and structurally different way to ask for a definition

what is the definition of

Explicitly requests a dictionary-style explanation

what is meant by

Uses a passive construction often found in academic or formal writing

what do you mean

Shifts the focus to the speaker's intent rather than a word's definition

how do you define

Directly asks for the technical parameters of a term

could you explain

A polite, functional request for clarification

what does this signify

Uses a more formal verb often applied to symbols or events

FAQs

Is "what does mean" correct?

No, "what does mean" is generally considered incorrect in written English because it lacks a subject. You should use "what does that mean" or "what does it mean" instead.

How do I ask for a definition properly?

You can ask "what is the meaning of" followed by the word, or "how do you define" to be more precise.

What is the difference between "what does mean" and "what does it mean"?

The first is an ungrammatical fragment, while "what does it mean" is the standard, grammatically correct way to ask for a definition or explanation.

Can I use "what does mean" in informal texting?

While people often use shortcuts in texting, it is still better to use "what does this mean" to avoid confusion and maintain clarity.