Mems

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. Plural for brief digital images or videos, often with humorous captions, shared rapidly online ; shortened informal version of memorable moments or memes
  2. Term used to describe multiple internet jokes in visual or video form circulating online ; colloquial abbreviation for remarkable incidents or widely-shared memes
  3. Refers to collections of widely distributed funny visuals or clips online ; slang shorthand for memorable stories or the concept of memes in casual conversation

Etymology: The term derives from "meme," a word coined by the British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene". Dawkins created "meme" by shortening and altering the Greek word "mimeme," meaning "that which is imitated," to capture the idea of cultural units of information that replicate and evolve similarly to genes. The plural form "memes" follows standard English conventions, but "mems" appears as a clipped, informal variant used especially in digital and colloquial contexts. This shortened plural likely emerged with the rise of internet culture in the early 21st century, where brevity and speed in communication became valued. Online forums, social media platforms, and texting environments favor concise expressions, and "mems" fits this trend by trimming the familiar "memes" to a snappier form. Though less formal, it carries the same core meaning, referring to units of cultural information—images, phrases, videos—that spread virally. The evolution from "meme" to "mems" illustrates how language adapts to new communication technologies and social habits. While "meme" itself is a relatively recent coinage, the pluralization into "mems" demonstrates the organic ways users mold language to suit convenience, often without losing the essence of the original concept. This kind of abbreviation is common in digital slang, reflecting the fast-paced exchange of cultural content online. Linguistically, the root remains anchored in imitation and replication, echoing Dawkins’s original scientific metaphor. As the idea of memes expanded beyond biology into popular culture, the language around them diversified, with "mems" standing as a succinct, user-driven evolution of the original term.

Synonyms: microelectromechanical systems