memo

noun

ˈme-(ˌ)mō 

plural memos

: a usually brief written message or report : memorandum

Use headlines, bullets, and lists to organize the memo and the proposal.

—Inc. Magazine

When your boss asks you to find a memo you wrote a year ago, it's hard to remember what you named it.

—Susan Kelley

see also:

get the memo

Synonyms of memo

• letter
• epistle

Examples of memo in a Sentence

He sent a memo to the staff.

a long series of memos between the two authors collaborating on the book

Recent Examples on the Web

For most defendants charged with a crime — except for those accused of capital murder or violent crimes and threats of violence — bail will not be required, the memo explained. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Much of what that vetting would look like, and the process by which potential targets would be selected, isn't described in the memo. — Henry Larson, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026

As of Thursday, no further memo had been filed, and prosecutors had not responded. — Devon M. Sayers, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

The 2020 killing of Pop Smoke, whose real name was Bashar Jackson, occurred when Jester was 15 years old, according to a sentencing memo written by prosecutors. — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing memo

• counter-memo
• get the memo

Rhymes for memo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

memo

noun

ˈmem-ō 

plural memos

: memorandum