memorandum
noun
mem·o·ran·dum
ˌme-mə-ˈran-dəm 
plural memorandums or memoranda
ˌme-mə-ˈran-də
1
: an informal record
also
: a written reminder
2
: an informal written record of an agreement that has not yet become official
3
a
: an informal diplomatic (see diplomatic sense 2) communication
b
: a usually brief communication written for interoffice circulation
The company president sent a memorandum to every employee.
c
: a communication that contains directive, advisory, or informative matter
The memorandum called particular attention to the plight of refugees.
memorandums or memoranda?: Usage Guide
Although some commentators warn against the use of memoranda as a singular and condemn the plural memorandas, our evidence indicates that these forms are rarely encountered in print. We have a little evidence of the confusion of forms, including use of memorandum as a plural, in speech (as at congressional hearings). As plurals memoranda and memorandums are about equally frequent.
Examples of memorandum in a Sentence
I'm waiting for the memorandum that will explain the new vacation policy.
the studio executives depend on endless memoranda to keep track of what's going on at a movie shot on location
Recent Examples on the Web
The Taiwan Creative Content Agency and Singapore’s public broadcast group MediaCorp, Tuesday, used the opening day of the Taiwan Creative Content Fest as the occasion to sign a memorandum of understanding.
—
Patrick Frater, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Unfortunately, most agencies need memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to even get started on information sharing.
—Kalyn Sims, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The memorandum claims that evidence at the crime scene supports Odinist practices, including symbols in the form of runes.
—Virginia Black, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Oct. 2024
The two governments signed memorandums of understanding for cooperation on a number of key areas including semiconductors.
—Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for memorandum 
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Patrick Frater, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Unfortunately, most agencies need memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to even get started on information sharing.
—Kalyn Sims, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The memorandum claims that evidence at the crime scene supports Odinist practices, including symbols in the form of runes.
—Virginia Black, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Oct. 2024
The two governments signed memorandums of understanding for cooperation on a number of key areas including semiconductors.
—Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for memorandum
Dictionary Entries Near memorandum
Cite this Entry
“Memorandum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memorandum. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
memorandum
noun
mem·o·ran·dum
ˌmem-ə-ˈran-dəm
plural memorandums or memoranda
-də
1
: an informal record or communication
2
: a brief written reminder
Legal Definition
memorandum
noun
mem·o·ran·dum
ˌme-mə-ˈran-dəm
plural memorandums; plural memoranda
-də
1
: a usually informal written communication
2
: a record (as a note) which is used by a party seeking to enforce an otherwise oral agreement in accordance with the Statute of Frauds to prove that the other party agreed to a contract and which need not contain all the terms of the contract itself
3
: brief
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