noun
Uncommon
meme
meem
Meme (noun) means an image, video, or piece of text — often humorous — that spreads rapidly online, frequently with variations added by different users. Example: “The photo turned into a meme within hours of being posted.”
noun
1
An image, video, or piece of text — often humorous — that spreads rapidly online, frequently with variations added by different users.
"The photo turned into a meme within hours of being posted."
"He makes memes about office life for his followers."
2
An idea, behaviour, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture, similar to how genes spread biologically.
"The professor described fashion trends as a kind of cultural meme."
3
informal An image, video, piece of text or idea, typically humorous, that is copied and spread rapidly online, often with slight variations added by each person who shares it.
"The photo of the confused dog became a meme within hours of being posted."
"She made a meme out of the awkward interview clip."
verb
1
To create, share, or joke around using memes.
"They memed about the election result all week."
How to use meme
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally a term for an idea that spreads culturally, now used mainly for the funny images and jokes that circulate online.
Common pairings
internet meme
viral meme
meme culture
make a meme
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Word forms
- Plural
- memes
- Third person singular
- memes
- Past tense
- memed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The photo turned into a _____ within hours of being posted.
Etymology
Coined in 1976 by biologist Richard Dawkins, shortened from "mimeme" (built on Greek roots for "imitation") to echo the word "gene." The internet sense developed decades later.
Class of 1976
meme joined the language around 1976.
See the full Class of 1976 →
Synonyms
View more →
viral post
internet joke
Rhymes for meme
See all rhymes for meme →Frequently asked questions
What does “meme” mean?
The word “meme” means an image, video, or piece of text — often humorous — that spreads rapidly online, frequently with variations added by different users. In plain terms, originally a term for an idea that spreads culturally, now used mainly for the funny images and jokes that circulate online.
How do you pronounce “meme”?
“Meme” is pronounced meem (/miːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “meme” in a sentence?
Here is “meme” used in a sentence: “The photo turned into a meme within hours of being posted.”
What part of speech is “meme”?
Depending on how it is used, “meme” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “meme” come from?
The word “meme” dates back to around 1976 and comes from Greek. Coined in 1976 by biologist Richard Dawkins, shortened from "mimeme" (built on Greek roots for "imitation") to echo the word "gene." The internet sense developed decades later.
Is “meme” a common word?
“Meme” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “meme” have?
“Meme” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an image, video, or piece of text — often humorous — that spreads rapidly online, frequently with variations added by different users.
What is a meme?
In its everyday internet sense, a meme is an image, video, phrase or idea — usually funny — that spreads quickly online, with people making their own variations as it passes from person to person. In its original, broader sense, a meme is any unit of culture (an idea, behaviour or style) that spreads from person to person, similar to how a gene spreads biologically.
Who coined the word "meme"?
The evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined "meme" in his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene", deliberately echoing "gene" to describe a unit of cultural transmission. The modern internet-joke sense grew directly out of that original idea in the 1990s and 2000s.
What is the difference between a meme and a viral video?
A meme is usually a simple, easily-copied format (an image with text, a short clip, a phrase) that people remix and reuse in their own versions. A viral video is just a single video that spreads widely — it only becomes a meme if people start remixing or referencing it in new ways.
What is the plural of "meme"?
"Memes." It follows the regular English plural pattern.
Are memes copyrighted?
The underlying photo, video or artwork in a meme can be copyrighted, and creators occasionally do enforce that. In practice, most memes are shared, remixed and used informally without permission, and enforcement is rare, but using someone else's copyrighted image commercially without a licence carries real legal risk.
