Synonyms

meme

American

[meem] / mim /

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, 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, meming

to make the subject of a meme.

cute cats that get memed.

meme British

/ miːm /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of meme

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 mī́mēma “imitation, copy; artistic representation,” but which Dawkins also wanted to look and sound like gene; mimesis ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s also led to countless viral memes on social media.

From BBC

Another possible strike against it: The terrible 2017 movie adaptation of Nesbo’s “The Snowman” — also featuring Harry Hole — is remembered mostly as a meme punchline.

From MarketWatch

There was a brief period in July 2025 when the stock took part in the “meme stock” frenzy.

From MarketWatch

The goal: better defend the country in a multifront meme war.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023