Memes spread through the behavior that they generate in their hosts. Memes that propagate less prolifically may become extinct, while others may survive, spread, and (for better or for worse) mutate.

But where did the word meme come from? You're right, this needs more cats. Meme isn't new: it dates to evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins' 1976 book The Selfish Gene, where it functioned with a …

Mar 20, 2024 · Memes have come a long way in the past 20-plus years. Here's a brief history of their evolution and a comprehensive guide to defining them.

Feb 14, 2026 · The term meme was introduced in 1976 by British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. He conceived of memes as the cultural parallel to biological genes and considered them as …

Nov 28, 2025 · Most of us are familiar with memes, those images with varying text that propagate, often virally, through the internet, but where does the word meme come from? It may be surprising to …

Oct 8, 2020 · How far back do memes go? What were the first internet memes? Learn more about Pepe the Frog's ancestors in this quick history.

meme (n.) "an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture," 1976, introduced by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in "The Selfish Gene," coined by him from …

Oct 16, 2024 · 1921 comic strip published in the University of Iowa’s satirical magazine The Judge featured a two-panel cartoon that played on the “Expectations vs. Reality” theme. The term “meme” …

In this article, we will explore the origin and evolution of the word “meme.” The word “meme” was first coined by British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book, “The Selfish Gene.”

Explore the history, origin, and evolution of internet memes. Meme Reference is a curated archive documenting meme culture with verified sources, timelines, and context.