Basic Details
Word: Memorandum
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A written note or message, especially one sent inside an office or organisation; also a written record of an agreement.
Synonyms: memo, note, circular
Word origin: Comes from Latin memorandum, 'a thing to be remembered'.
How to Spell Memorandum
Syllables: mem - o - ran - dum
Tricky part: The vowels run o, a, u: mem-o-ran-dum. Students write memorendum or end it in -dam.
Watch out for: memorendum, memorandam, memmorandum
Memory tip: A memorandum is a memo that ran long: memo + ran + dum.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Please read the memorandum pinned on the staffroom notice board.
Example 2: The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on trade.
Example 3: She kept a memorandum of every expense during the trip.
Fun Fact
The plural can be memoranda, the Latin form, or memorandums; both are correct. The short form memo is now far more common.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. referandum 2. curriculam 3. memorandum 4. auditorum
a) a public vote on one single question
b) the part of a hall where the audience sits
c) a written note or message, especially in an office
d) the subjects taught in a school or course
Show answer
c) a written note or message, especially in an office. Curriculum, referendum and auditorium come from Latin like memorandum, but in the list each has a wrong vowel or a missing i.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters:
mem_r_nd_m
a) o, e, u
b) o, a, o
c) a, a, u
d) o, a, u
Show answer
d) o, a, u. Memo, then ran, then dum: the vowels are o, a and u.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The clerk typed a dumnaomerm about the office closing early on Friday.
a) memorial
b) memorandum
c) remainder
d) memorable
Show answer
b) memorandum. Ten letters including three m's and a u can only make memorandum.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is the common short form of memorandum?
a) memo
b) dum
c) mem
d) rand
Show answer
a) memo
2. Memorandum comes from Latin and means 'a thing to be ____'.
a) posted
b) remembered
c) signed
d) forgotten
Show answer
b) remembered
