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

The memo stated the federal government had started site preparation but blamed Pritzker for delaying the land purchase and a needed state permit. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026

Prior cost-cutting also included eliminating food purchases for employee-only functions, the memo states. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 20 Mar. 2026

Related Stories Employees were informed of the move Friday in a memo from Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026

Police Chief Daniel Comeaux announced the change in a memo Friday. —Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 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