Memetic appropriation 

Basically cultural appropriation but specifically regarding memes. Memetic appropriation is when somebody says a meme reference but they don't actually understand the context behind the meme and have no idea where the meme originated from. They only say it because everybody else is saying it.

User 1: This joke ain't even funny
User 2: r/wooosh
User 1: Stop memetic appropriating, you didn't even spell the sub right

Memetic appropriation

Memetic appropriation by Mary Mary Quite The Contrarian June 27, 2021

Memetic Osmosis

Figuring out what happens in a TV Show, Game, or Movie entirely from memes or recent trends.

Person 1: "Have you actually seen Breaking Bad?"
Person 2: "No, but I pieced together what happens with memetic osmosis."

Memetic Osmosis by Fordring1009 August 11, 2022

Memetic Justice 

The use of memes as a form of social punishment or rejection as a direct or indirect response to wrongful words and/or actions.

A derivation of poetic justice.

The partygate memes contributed to Boris Johnson's resignation in a form of memetic justice.

Memetic Justice by perregrine July 5, 2024

Memetic Theory

The study of ideas, behaviors, or styles that spread from person to person within a culture—the "genes" of culture, known as memes. Proposed by Richard Dawkins, it suggests that memes (like catchy tunes, fashion trends, religious beliefs, or slang) evolve through a process of variation, competition, and replication, using human minds as hosts. Success depends on "fitness" factors like simplicity, emotional resonance, and utility. Memetic theory is used to analyze everything from viral marketing and conspiracy theories to the evolution of religions and political ideologies.

Example: The rapid, global spread of the "Ice Bucket Challenge" is a textbook case of Memetic Theory. The meme (a specific behavior: dumping ice water, filming it, nominating others) had high fitness: it was simple, tied to a cause (ALS awareness), evoked strong emotions (fun, sympathy), and had a built-in replication mechanism (nominations). It outcompeted other charitable appeals and mutated into countless local variations.

Memetic Theory by Nammugal February 5, 2026

Memetic Mantras 

Phrases that reprogram mood, singular or broken, apparently unconnected or orchestrated phrases, spread to form a larger diet of hive snacks, which in turn, feed the hive mind.

He thinks he's such a clever dude, pasting up his graffiti and tags for consumption of the hive, feeding off these Memetic Mantras, hoping to create a feedback loop of followers,pushing his new fractal vibe here there and everywhere! Once his followers are hooked, he's able to mess around with their moods like a dog awaiting his food.

Memetic Mantras by BudgieMuscle1 August 30, 2025

Memetising 

The act of advertising businesses or products with the use of memes.

Vicky: “I can’t believe how busy this restaurant is!”

Daniel: “Yeah they’ve been heavily memetising on Facebook.”

Memetising by sirdanielot July 26, 2018

Mimetic Polyalloy

That shit that the T-1000 is made of in terminator 2

Like you? Not like me. Mimetic Polyalloy. The hell is that? Liquid metal.

Mimetic Polyalloy by clone July 17, 2004