Episode Overview

Podcast: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Episode Date: February 8, 2026
Featured Word: "meme"

This episode dives into the origins and evolution of the word “meme”—exploring its roots, how its meaning has shifted over time, and the story behind its coinage. Hosted by Peter Sokolowski, listeners gain an accessible but detailed look at a word that shapes contemporary digital culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Popular Understanding of "Meme"

• Definition: “Meme” is primarily used today to refer to an amusing picture or video widely shared online.
• Example in Use: A weather-themed meme is described—"Shane Hinton, a meteorologist for CBS News Miami, posted a Facebook meme earlier this week that showed a 70 degree spread between Miami's near record 85 and Minneapolis's 15."
  (00:32)

2. Broader and Original Meanings

• Expanded Definition: A meme isn't just a viral joke—it's “an idea, behavior, style or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.”
  (00:38)
• Origin Story: Richard Dawkins, in his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, coined the term as “a unit of cultural transmission."
  (00:48)

3. Etymology and Naming Process

• Naming Journey: Dawkins considered “mimim” (from Greek), but wanted a "monosyllable that sounds a bit like the word ‘gene.’”
  • Meme = Greek root “mim” (meaning mime or mimic) + English suffix “-eme” (as in grapheme, lexeme, phoneme—meaning a unit of structure).
    (00:54)
• Memorable Moment/Quote:
  • “Mimim comes from a suitable Greek root, but I want a monosyllable that sounds a bit like the word gene.”
    —Peter Sokolowski quoting Dawkins (00:56)

4. Evolution of the Term

• Like a meme itself, the word “meme” spread quickly and its meaning evolved.
• The internet sense—captioned photos and viral media—has become dominant in public consciousness.
  (01:16)

5. Closing Thought

• Lighthearted wrap-up highlighting the ubiquity and adaptability of memes:
  • “It’s most often used to refer to any one of those silly captioned photos that the Internet can't seem to get enough of.”
    (01:33)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:32: Definition and popular usage, including online examples
• 00:48: Richard Dawkins’ original concept and definition
• 00:54: Etymological notes and Dawkins’ naming process
• 01:16: How the word evolved to its current internet meaning
• 01:33: Lighthearted remark on the virality of internet memes

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dawkins’ coinage:
  “In his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, british scientist Richard Dawkins defended his newly coined word meme, which he defined as a unit of cultural transmission.” (00:48)

• On word formation:
  “‘Mimim’ comes from a suitable Greek root, but I want a monosyllable that sounds a bit like the word ‘gene.’” (00:56, quoting Dawkins)

• On the evolution of the word:
  “Like any good meme, the word meme caught on and evolved, eventually developing the meaning known to anyone who spends time online.” (01:16)

Episode Tone

Friendly, educational, and delightfully geeky—Peter Sokolowski explains complex etymologies in a clear, relatable way, keeping the pace brisk and the information accessible.

For more word explorations, visit merriam-webster.com with your next curiosity!