internet meme
Shared online joke
An internet meme is a piece of content—image, video, phrase, or format—that spreads rapidly online, often with variations.
Memes typically combine a recognizable template with new captions or contexts for humor or commentary: That distracted boyfriend meme is everywhere.
The term derives from biologist Richard Dawkins's concept of cultural units that replicate and evolve, though internet usage emphasizes viral spread and remixing.
Memes often have short lifespans, cycling through novelty to overuse to ironic revival.
- go viralSpread rapidly online
- viralSpreading quickly online
- dankDisagreeably cold and wet
- templatePreset pattern for reproduction
- sharePortion given out
humor · caption · image · trending · reaction · reaction image · GIF · distracted boyfriend · copypasta · shitpost · rickroll · format · remixed · ironic · absurd · relatable · screenshot · cringe
- memeticsreplicator, cultural evolution, cultural inheritance
- Cultural Referencescatchphrase, movie quote, song lyric, famous line, proverb
internet memeprivate message
Confidential digital note
direct message · personal correspondence · confidential communication · sealed letter · classified document
internet memeliterary classic
Celebrated work of lasting merit
sacred scripture · museum piece · monument · cultural heritage · magnum opus
internet memeoral tradition
Culture passed by speech
newspaper article · cave painting · broadcast television · telegram · smoke signal
internet, meme, network, networked, netting, netted, memes, memetic