# memorandum

/ˌmɛmɝˈændəm/ (US) · /mˌɛməɹˈændəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/memorandum
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. business note

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a written message used in an office to share information with other people in the same company.

For teachers: a written business communication, often abbreviated as 'memo', used to disseminate information or instructions within an organisation.

- The manager sent a memorandum to all staff explaining the new holiday policy.
- The internal memorandum detailed the proposed restructuring of the department and invited feedback from senior stakeholders.

Usage: Often shortened to 'memo' in everyday office speech; the full form is reserved for formal documents.

Teaching tip: Learners should use 'memo' for casual office talk and 'memorandum' for formal reports or legal contexts.

### 2. legal/diplomatic record

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a formal document that records an agreement or explains a legal point.

For teachers: a formal document recording the terms of a contract or a diplomatic communication between states.

- The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to work together on climate change.
- The legal team drafted a memorandum of law to support their argument before the high court.

Usage: Commonly appears in the fixed phrase 'memorandum of understanding' (MoU).

Teaching tip: This is a high-level term frequently found in international relations and contract law.

### 3. a reminder

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

a short note you write to help you remember something later.

For teachers: a brief note or record intended to serve as a reminder for future use.

- He scribbled a quick memorandum in his diary about the upcoming deadline.
- The historian discovered a private memorandum in the archives that revealed the minister's true intentions.

Teaching tip: In modern English, 'note' or 'reminder' is much more common for personal use; this sense feels quite old-fashioned or academic.

## Examples

- The manager sent a memorandum about the new office hours.
- The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to outline their future partnership goals.
- The legal team drafted a formal memorandum detailing the potential risks associated with the merger before the final board meeting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.