memorandum

American  

[mem-uh-ran-duhm] / ˌmɛm əˈræn dəm /

noun

• memorandums,
  plural
• memoranda
  plural

1. a short note designating something to be remembered, especially something to be done or acted upon in the future; reminder.

2. a record or written statement of something.

3. an informal message, especially one sent between two or more employees of the same company, concerning company business.

   an interoffice memorandum.

4. Law. a writing, usually informal, containing the terms of a transaction.

5. Diplomacy. a summary of the state of an issue, the reasons for a decision agreed on, etc.

6. a document transferring title to goods but authorizing the return of the goods to the seller at the option of the buyer.

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memorandum British  

/ ˌmɛməˈrændəm /

noun

1. a written statement, record, or communication such as within an office

2. a note of things to be remembered

3. an informal diplomatic communication, often unsigned: often summarizing the point of view of a government

4. law a short written summary of the terms of a transaction

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Usage

Plural word for memorandum The plural form of memorandum can be either memoranda or memorandums. The plurals of several other singular words that end in -um are also formed this way, including curriculum/curricula and bacterium/bacteria. Irregular nouns whose plurals are formed like memoranda derive directly from their original pluralization in Latin. However, the standard English plural -s ending is often also acceptable for many of these terms, as in curriculums and forums.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prememorandum
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• memoranda
  plural
• memorandums
  plural

Etymology

Origin of memorandum

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin: something to be noted, noun use of neuter of memorandus, gerundive of memorāre to mention, tell

Explanation

A memorandum is a written record, message, or reminder. If your boss sends out a memorandum that there'll be a special teamwork-building workshop on Friday morning, get ready to do trust falls. Memoranda (that's the plural) are often used in diplomacy, business, and law. Two countries might sign a memorandum of understanding that they will equally share use of the river that runs between them. A member of Congress might publish a memorandum criticizing the government’s education policies. You’re probably more familiar with the word's shortened form, memo, which means the same thing but is usually used in informal contexts, such as for messages within an office.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

memorandum memoranda memorandums

Delaying the contract, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez said, would give the public and city leaders more time to review the safeguards and policies written into the LAPD’s proposed memorandum of understanding with Axon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

Senior Buddhist leaders, the Mahanayake Theros of the Ramanna Nikaya and the Amarapura Maha Nikaya, together with Hindu religious leaders, handed over a memorandum to the Presidential Secretariat calling for urgent state intervention.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

They also signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding outlining a planned agreement to conduct clinical trials combining ivonescimab with several of AstraZeneca’s cancer medicines in a range of clinical trials.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Pacific Fusion has signed a technical collaboration memorandum of understanding with the National Nuclear Security Administration.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

He took out his memorandum book and solemnly wrote: “Don’t forget to have six boys and six girls.”

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Anyway all the flirtations and memoranda came to nothing, as foreseen in these pages and elsewhere.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Nine other agreements and memoranda of understanding were finalised on Saturday, covering digital cooperation, health, entrepreneurship and other fields.

From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026

He said Nepal has signed agreements or memoranda of understanding with China, India and Bangladesh for power trade or cooperation.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 28, 2024

Kissinger consistently reinforced Nixon's impulse to ignore the law, but also took precautions to cover his own backside by getting Haig to compile memoranda showing that Nixon knew about and approved the illegal transfers.

From Salon ● Dec. 10, 2023

“Is that what did it? My memoranda? Is that what made them put Scheisskopf in charge? Why didn’t they put me in charge?”

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

The companies in his delegation—including Hunt Oil, Repsol, Eni, Halliburton, Petroquímica de Venezuela and several trading firms—are expected to sign memorandums of understanding to lay the groundwork to operate in Venezuela.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

President Donald Trump set the tone for his second term by issuing 26 executive orders, four proclamations and 12 memorandums on his first day back in office.

From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2025

Other analysts note that a lot of the agreements signed during the trip were non-binding memorandums of understanding, which are less formal than contracts, and do not always translate into actual transactions.

From BBC ● May 20, 2025

Shortly after taking office, Hochman removed a number of Gascón’s closest allies from leadership posts in the district attorney’s office, according to transfer memorandums issued at the time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2025

There was file after file of saved correspondence, memorandums and official announcements.

From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner

Related Words

• announcement
• diary
• directive
• letter
• memo
• message
• notice