Meme meaning
(Pronounced "meem") A trend, belief, fashion or phrase that is passed from generation to generation through imitation and behavioral replication. Coined by Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene," memes and memetics are the cultural counterpart to the biological study of genes and genetics. Using the evolution analogy, Dawkins observed that human cultures evolve via "contagious" communications in a manner similar to the gene pool of populations over time. See Internet meme.
The definition of a meme is a belief, trend, or behavior that is spread from generation to generation by repeated use or imitation, or an image or piece of information that is spread quickly by Internet users.
An example of a meme is the practice and ceremony of baptism in the Christian faith.
An example of a meme is an image, story or joke that is passed between Internet users using email, social networking, blogs and other websites.
noun
A concept, belief, or practice conceived as a unit of cultural information that may be passed on from person to person, subject to influences in a way analogous to natural selection.
noun
A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.
noun
Advertisement
Origin of meme
- Shortening (modeled on gene) of mimeme from Greek mimēma something imitated from mimeisthai to imitate mimesis
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Coined by Richard Dawkins in his book The Selfish Gene (1976). Shortened (after gene) from mimeme, from Ancient Greek μίμημα (mimema, “imitation, copy”).
From Wiktionary