MEME Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

View synonyms for

meme

[ meem ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

1. a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition and replication in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes.
2. a cultural item in the form of an image, video, phrase, etc., that is spread via the internet and often altered in a creative or humorous way.

verb (used without object)

memed, memeing or meming.

to create and spread memes:
He spends a lot of time memeing and sharing his videos with friends.

verb (used with object)

memed, memeing or meming.

to make the subject of a meme:
cute cats that get memed.

meme

/ ��ː�� /

noun

an idea or element of social behaviour passed on through generations in a culture, esp by imitation

Discover More

�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of meme¹

First recorded in 1976; coined by British evolutionary biologist C. Richard Dawkins (born 1941), shortening of Dawkins's original creation mimeme, which was based on Greek ��ī́��ŧ�� “imitation, copy; artistic representation,” but which Dawkins also wanted to look and sound like gene; mimesis ( def )

Discover More

�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of meme¹

C20: possibly from mimic , on the model of gene

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It has also received huge pick-up on social media, with some scenes being made into memes and gifs, while fans have speculated on relationships between cast members.

From

“There were so many sequences where it was like, ‘She looks down and she sees a meme, and then she looks up at Henry and then she looks down and she sees the security camera.’

From

Posts viewed by the BBC from Elon Musk parody accounts ranged from memes and jokes, to promoting cryptocurrency and car giveaways.

From

Like ransomware attacks, meme coin “rug pulls” can have many victims.

From

Lutnick’s observation gained instant meme status on social media, along with his woolly assertions about government spending not having anything to do with inflation, and enhanced his stature as the Trump Cabinet’s outstanding horse’s patootie.

From

Browse