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
Phrases
get the memo
informal + often humorous
: to hear about or become aware of something generally known
typically used in negative constructions to point to someone's surprising lack of awareness, to say that something did not happen as expected, etc.
Officials often warn tourists not to enter the water, but several tourists searching for that perfect Instagram photo apparently did not get the memo.The San Francisco Chronicle
The calendar may say only five more days until fall, but mother nature did not get the memo. It is going to be hot and feel even hotter over the next couple of days.Carrie Duncan
You're not still wearing those acid-washed jeans, are you? Tube socks and shorts? … OK, so no one told you. You didn't get the memo. Those things went out with neckties the size of small landing strips.Christine Keating
It was expected to be a five-set test of endurance … But, Edberg apparently did not get the memo because he just dominated Courier and captured his first- ever U.S. Open title with a straight set triumph at the National Tennis Center in New York.Van Earl Wright

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 In a memo to company staff Monday, G/O Media CEO Jim Spanfeller announced that Deadspin was sold to European firm Lineup Publishing. Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 But a memo sent in fall 2023 to car dealers across the US, obtained by CNN, gives an insight into just how determined the company is to weaken the US government’s EV policies. Angela Dewan, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 Tipton, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, has previously ruled against other Biden administration immigration rules, including a 2021 memo that narrowed the scope of arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the U.S. interior. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 Two separate audiologists in memos to Google said Hall needs an American Sign Language interpreter full-time. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2024 He will be allowed to resign to retire, effective Feb. 20 but remain on the city payroll with his regular salary and benefits for the rest of the year until Dec. 31, according to a memo from City Manager Paul Lolli to Council. Jennifer Edwards Baker, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 The entertainment studio has named Ravi Ahuja president and COO, according to a memo to staff Wednesday from SPE CEO Tony Vinciquerra. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 In a memo to legislative leaders, Marson noted the 2022 general election ballot, with 10 propositions and 85 total contests, took voters an average of 9 1/2 minutes to complete. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 3 Mar. 2024 Sundar Pichai addressed the AI tool's controversial mistakes in a memo to Google employees. Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'memo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of memo was in 1705

Dictionary Entries Near memo

Cite this Entry

“Memo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memo. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

memo

noun
plural memos

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