English · Word Candidate

memo

/ˈmɛməʊ̯/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: memos · memoing · memoed

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A short note; a memorandum.

Noun

Examples

According to yet another leaked memo, Powell responded the next day. Powell's leaked memo conceded that al Qaeda were not POWs, and that the Taliban individually or as a group might also lose their entitlement to that status.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A record of partial results that can be reused later without recomputation.

Noun

Examples

The first is that the recursive call finds its subproblem solution in the memo and returns immediately.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To record something; to make a note of something.

VerbRegister: informal

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To send someone a note about something, for the record.

VerbRegister: informal

Examples

I made sure to memo him about the client's complaints.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “memo” mean?

A short note; a memorandum.

Is “memo” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.