Memphis

¹ American  

[mem-fis] / ˈmɛm fɪs /

noun

1. a port in SW Tennessee, on the Mississippi.

2. a ruined city in Lower Egypt, on the Nile, S of Cairo: the ancient capital of Egypt.

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Memphis ² American  

[mem-fis] / ˈmɛm fɪs /

noun

1. a group of international designers and architects, formed in the 1980s and based in Milan, whose work is characterized by the use of bold colors, geometric shapes, and unconventional, often playful, designs.

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adjective

1. of or relating to this group or its style of design.

Memphis British  

/ ˈmɛmfɪs /

noun

1. a port in SW Tennessee, on the Mississippi River: the largest city in the state; a major cotton and timber market; Memphis State University (1909). Pop: 645 978 (2003 est)

2. a ruined city in N Egypt, the ancient centre of Lower Egypt, on the Nile: administrative and artistic centre, sacred to the worship of Ptah

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Memphis Cultural  

1. Largest city in Tennessee; located on the Mississippi River.

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Etymology

Origin of Memphis

The name was allegedly suggested to Ettore Sottsass, one of the group's founders, by the Bob Dylan song “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again” on the evening of December 11, 1980

Example Sentences

Jr., and his father, Lontrell Williams Sr., who’s known around the Memphis music scene as “Mob Boss,” were arrested Wednesday in Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., and Dallas.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Once made public, SpaceX’s filing is expected to shed light on the combined company’s operations, which now range from satellite factories and launchpads to xAI’s sprawling facility in Memphis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Then he flew to Memphis, Tennessee, gave a speech and visited Graceland, music legend Elvis Presley's historic home.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

“Don’t worry about Easter – going home. In fact, make this one for Jesus, okay? Make this one for Jesus, that’s what I tell them,” he said at an event in Memphis, Tennessee on Monday.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

He finished it just as the Memphis skyline came into view.

From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green