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memorandum

UK/ˌmɛm.əˈɹæn.dəm/US/ˌmɛm.əˈɹæn.dəm/
nounC1Occasional — familiar, but not everyday · #10,416 of 15,258leans written

Other forms: memoranda, memorandums

A memorandum is a short written note circulated inside an organisation. Circulate a memorandum, an internal memorandum, a memorandum of understanding.

It is usually shortened to memo. A memorandum of understanding records what parties have agreed without creating a binding contract, which is a genuinely useful instrument and often misunderstood as one. The plural is memoranda or memorandums. Note that the Latin means a thing to be remembered, which is exactly the job.

Definitions of memorandum

  1. 1nounmemorandumA short written note circulated inside an organisation.C1

    “The manager sent a memorandum to all staff about the new holiday rules.”

memorandum is a written note.

Where it comes from

Latin memorandum is the neuter of memorandus, to be remembered, from memorare. Memory, memorial and commemorate come from the same remembering.

  1. Proto-Indo-European

    *(s)mer-

  2. Latin

    memorandum

  3. English, today

    memorandum

Built from

  • memorandus · Latin — to be remembered

Latin memorandum, neuter of memorandus (“to be remembered”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in Business & Money

Practise this word

memorandum in the wild

  • Other memorandum formats include briefing notes, reports, letters, and binders.

    Memorandum

  • The memorandum was witnessed and co-signed by President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan.

    Sharm El Sheikh Memorandum

  • The memorandum was officially denounced by the government of Yugoslavia in 1986, and the government of the SR Serbia for inciting nationalism.

    SANU Memorandum

  • Memoranda can be amended or rescinded by executive orders or another memorandum, but executive orders take legal precedence and cannot be changed by a memorandum.

    Presidential memorandum

  • The August Frank memorandum of 26 September 1942 was a directive from SS Lieutenant General August Frank of the SS concentration camp administration department (SS-WVHA).

    August Frank memorandum

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.