The Complete Meme Creation Glossary

A meme format is the structural template or layout pattern that defines how a meme is constructed. It includes the image or visual arrangement, the placement of text, and the logical relationship between visual and textual elements. For example, the "Drake Approving/Disapproving" format uses a two-panel layout where the top panel shows rejection and the bottom panel shows approval. The format stays the same across thousands of different memes — only the specific text or images within the panels change. Formats are the grammar of meme language: they provide the structure, and creators fill in the content.

A meme template is the specific base image used to create a meme within a given format. It is the blank or original version of the image before any custom text has been added. Meme generators like Imgflip and Adobe Express provide libraries of templates organized by popularity and category. Templates can be photographs, illustrations, screenshots, comic panels, or any other visual content that has been adopted by the internet as a meme base. The template is the starting point; the meme is the finished product after a creator adds their own text and context.

A caption is the text added to a meme to give it meaning within a specific context. Captions are the creative element that transforms a generic template into a specific meme. In classic image macro format, captions appear in bold white text at the top and bottom of the image. In modern formats, captions may appear above the image, below it, within speech bubbles, as overlaid text, or in separate text panels. The effectiveness of a meme almost always depends on the quality and timing of the caption — the same template with different captions produces entirely different memes.

An image macro is the original and most recognizable meme format: a photograph or image overlaid with bold text, typically in Impact font, at the top and bottom. Examples include "One Does Not Simply," "Bad Luck Brian," and "Success Kid." The term "macro" comes from early internet forums where users could create text shortcuts (macros) that automatically embedded images. Image macros dominated meme culture from roughly 2008 to 2015 and remain widely understood, though modern meme formats have expanded far beyond this single structure. Image macros are what most people think of when they hear the word "meme."

A reaction image is a picture — usually of a person, character, or animal — used to express an emotional response to a statement, situation, or other piece of content. Reaction images are posted as replies in comment threads, group chats, and social media conversations to communicate feelings like surprise, disgust, approval, confusion, or amusement without words. Common examples include the "Surprised Pikachu" face, the "Sure, Jan" GIF, and the "Side-Eye Chloe" photo. Reaction images function as visual punctuation in online conversations.

A reaction GIF is an animated version of a reaction image — a short, looping clip used to express an emotional response in online conversations. Reaction GIFs are typically sourced from movies, TV shows, interviews, or viral videos and are shared through platforms like GIPHY, Tenor, or the built-in GIF keyboards in messaging apps. They serve the same communicative function as reaction images but add the dimension of movement, making the emotional expression more dynamic and nuanced. The subtle head shake, the slow clap, the dramatic eye roll — these gestures are more effectively conveyed through animation than static images.

An exploitable is a meme template specifically designed or recognized as being easy to modify and adapt. The term comes from the idea that the image has an "exploitable" area — a blank space, a replaceable element, or a clear structure that invites customization. Rage comics, for example, were highly exploitable because each face represented a specific emotion and could be arranged in different panel layouts to tell different stories. The more exploitable an image is, the more variations the community can produce, which drives the meme's spread and longevity.

A deepfried meme is an image that has been intentionally degraded through extreme saturation, contrast boosting, JPEG compression artifacts, lens flare effects, and color distortion to create a surreal, overprocessed aesthetic. The name comes from the visual analogy to deep-frying food — the image has been "cooked" until it is barely recognizable. Deepfried memes emerged as a commentary on the lifecycle of internet content, where images are shared, compressed, re-uploaded, and re-compressed until they visually degrade. The intentional deepfrying exaggerates this process for comedic effect, turning image degradation into an art form.

A surreal meme is a meme that deliberately defies conventional logic, narrative structure, and visual coherence. Surreal memes use abstract imagery, nonsensical text, distorted dimensions, and references to absurdist concepts to create humor through confusion and disorientation. Common elements include geometric shapes with human characteristics, warnings about undefined threats, references to non-existent dimensions, and dialogue that follows no logical pattern. Surreal memes are a deliberate reaction against the formulaic nature of mainstream meme formats — they find humor in the complete absence of meaning rather than in relatable observations.

Irony in meme culture refers to the use of content that communicates the opposite of its surface meaning — creating humor through deliberate insincerity, exaggeration, or the subversion of expectations. Ironic memes often use outdated formats, excessive emoji, or deliberately poor design to signal that the content is not meant to be taken at face value. Post-irony takes this further by layering sincerity within ironic framing, creating content where it is genuinely unclear whether the creator is being sincere or not. This ambiguity is the point — post-ironic memes exist in the space between earnestness and satire, and different audiences will read them differently. The progression from sincerity to irony to post-irony reflects the increasing sophistication of meme culture as a communicative system.

A forced meme is a meme that has been artificially promoted or repeatedly posted in an attempt to make it go viral, rather than gaining popularity through organic adoption and sharing. Forced memes are generally viewed negatively by meme communities because they lack the authentic cultural resonance that characterizes successful memes. The distinction between organic and forced memes is often subjective — what one community sees as a fresh, emerging meme, another may dismiss as forced. Brand-created memes and marketing memes are frequently accused of being forced, especially when they misuse formats or misunderstand the cultural context of meme humor.

A normie meme is a meme that has reached mainstream cultural awareness — used widely by general audiences rather than niche internet communities. The term "normie" (short for "normal person") is used by meme subcultures to describe people who consume memes casually without deep knowledge of meme history, formats, or community norms. Normie memes are typically formats that have been popular for a long time, are widely shared on Facebook and Instagram, and use straightforward, broadly relatable humor. The classification is inherently subjective and community-dependent — what is considered a normie meme in one community may be cutting-edge in another.

A dank meme is a meme considered to be exceptionally creative, original, or humorous by internet meme communities. The term "dank" — originally slang for high-quality cannabis — was adopted by meme culture to describe memes that stand out from the ordinary. Dank memes often feature absurdist humor, multiple layers of irony, niche references, or unexpected combinations of formats and content. The term is both a compliment and a genre descriptor — there are entire communities (like Reddit's r/dankmemes) dedicated to creating and sharing content that meets the community's standards for dankness. Like "normie," the classification is subjective and shifts over time.

A copypasta is a block of text that is copied and pasted repeatedly across internet forums, social media, and comment sections. The name is a portmanteau of "copy" and "paste." Copypastas can be humorous, absurd, satirical, or deliberately annoying, and they spread through repetition rather than through visual content. Famous examples include the "Navy Seal" copypasta, the "bee movie script" copypasta, and various emoji-laden texts. While copypastas are text-based rather than image-based, they function as memes in the broader sense — they are units of cultural content that spread through sharing and repetition. Some meme generators now include copypasta text as part of their template libraries.

A shitpost is a piece of internet content — usually a meme, comment, or post — that is deliberately low-effort, absurd, or provocative. Shitposting is the act of creating and sharing such content, often in large volumes. The term is not necessarily pejorative; within meme communities, shitposting is a recognized and often celebrated practice. High-quality shitposts achieve humor precisely through their apparent lack of effort or coherence. The relationship between shitposting and meme culture is close — many meme formats and trends originate from shitposting communities where the pressure to be polished is replaced by a culture of rapid, experimental content creation.

OC stands for Original Content — a meme that the poster created themselves rather than reposting content found elsewhere. In meme communities, OC is generally valued and encouraged. Creators often tag their posts with "[OC]" to signal that the content is their own work. The distinction between OC and reposts is important in meme communities because it affects credit, karma (on Reddit), and community reputation. Meme generators are tools for creating OC — they give you the means to produce original memes from templates, custom images, or AI-generated content rather than simply resharing existing memes.

A repost is a meme or piece of content that has been shared before by someone else and is being posted again, usually without attribution to the original creator. Reposting is one of the most debated practices in meme culture. On one hand, reposting is the mechanism by which memes spread — sharing content is fundamental to how memes function. On the other hand, communities often criticize reposting when it occurs excessively, when it claims credit for others' work, or when it floods a community with content that most members have already seen. Some communities enforce strict repost policies, while others accept reposting as an inherent part of meme distribution.

A trending format is a meme template or structure that is currently experiencing a surge in popularity and usage across social media platforms. Trending formats change rapidly — a format can emerge, peak, and fade within days or weeks. Meme generators that track trending formats (like Imgflip's trending templates feature) help creators stay current by surfacing the formats that are generating the most engagement at any given time. Creating memes with trending formats increases the likelihood of engagement because audiences are already primed to recognize and respond to the visual structure. Timing is critical — using a trending format at its peak maximizes relevance, while using it too late can make content feel dated.

The meme economy is a metaphorical (and sometimes semi-serious) framework that applies economic concepts to meme culture. In this framework, meme formats are treated as assets that can be "invested in" (adopted early before they trend), "traded" (shared and adapted), and "devalued" (overused to the point of becoming normie content). The subreddit r/MemeEconomy on Reddit takes this concept and runs with it, with users posting "investment" recommendations on emerging formats and tracking their rise and fall. While largely humorous, the meme economy metaphor reflects real dynamics — meme formats do follow cycles of emergence, growth, peak popularity, saturation, and decline, much like economic assets.

Virality is the quality that causes a piece of content to be shared rapidly and widely across the internet, reaching a large audience in a short period of time. A viral meme is one that has achieved widespread distribution through organic sharing rather than paid promotion. Virality depends on several factors: emotional resonance (content that provokes strong reactions is shared more), relatability (content that applies to common experiences reaches broader audiences), timing (content that aligns with current events or trending topics spreads faster), simplicity (content that is quickly understood is easier to share), and platform mechanics (content that algorithms favor reaches more people). Virality is not random — it follows patterns — but it cannot be guaranteed. Meme generators help create the conditions for virality by providing access to trending formats and professional-quality output.

An alt meme (or alternative meme) is a meme that exists outside the mainstream of internet meme culture. Alt memes are typically produced by and circulated within niche communities and subcultures. They may use unconventional formats, reference obscure source material, employ experimental aesthetics, or rely on knowledge that is specific to a particular community. Surreal memes, deepfried memes, and various ironic and post-ironic meme styles are often categorized as alt memes. The alt meme label reflects the same mainstream-versus-underground dynamic found in music, art, and other cultural domains — there is a recognized boundary between broadly popular meme culture and the experimental, niche communities that push creative boundaries.