meme
noun
Simple meaning
Media, usually humorous, which is copied and circulated online with slight adaptations, such as basic pictures, video templates.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
meemIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈmim
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
Internet
Media, usually humorous, which is copied and circulated online with slight adaptations, such as basic pictures, video templates, etc.
originally
A cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation)
“Memes are the cultural counterpart of genes.”
Internet
A specific instance of a meme, such as an image macro or a video, often with humorous superimposed text.
originally
Any unit of (originally cultural) information, such as a practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another in a comparable way to the transmission of genes.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C1 · Advanced (estimated)
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Formality
- Technical
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: (Internet) Media, usually humorous, which is copied and circulated online with slight adaptations, such as basic pictures, video templates, etc.
Used this way, meme is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly warm, approving pull. It stays understated rather than dramatic. It turns up most in technology contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Positive
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Mild
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Playful
- Usage feel
- Playful and informal
Where it naturally appears
- Technology
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use meme
- “Memes are the cultural counterpart of genes.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.