me-too: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, journalistic, business
Quick answer
What does “me-too” mean?
Describing something that imitates or copies a successful product, idea, or movement, often without original innovation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Describing something that imitates or copies a successful product, idea, or movement, often without original innovation.
Adjective or verb relating to the act of joining or imitating an existing trend, product, or social movement, especially to gain commercial or social advantage. More recently, associated with the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term similarly. The hyphenated form 'me-too' is more common for the business sense in both. The social movement is almost always capitalized and unhyphenated: #MeToo or MeToo.
Connotations
In business contexts, equally pejorative in both varieties, implying derivative, unoriginal competition. The social movement sense is neutral/progressive.
Frequency
The business sense is slightly more frequent in American business journalism. The social movement term is globally used with equal frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “me-too” in a Sentence
[Company] launched a me-too [product]The market is flooded with me-too [items]Her story became part of the MeToo [movement/narrative]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “me-too” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The start-up didn't innovate; they just tried to me-too the market leader.
- Politicians often me-too popular policies before an election.
American English
- The company is planning to me-too the latest smartphone design.
- They're not leading, they're just me-tooing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Criticism of pharmaceutical or tech companies that release minor variations of a competitor's blockbuster product.
Academic
Analysis in sociology, gender studies, or media studies regarding the #MeToo movement. In business studies, analysis of market competition.
Everyday
Casually describing an unoriginal product or, more commonly, referencing the social movement ('She shared her me-too experience').
Technical
In pharmacology: a 'me-too drug' is a new drug with a similar chemical structure and effect to an existing one.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “me-too”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “me-too”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “me-too”
- Using 'me-too' as a standard agreement phrase ('Me too, I like coffee') in formal writing. Confusing the hyphenated (adjective) and unhyphenated/capitalized (movement) forms.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In the context of the #MeToo social movement, it is neutral or positive, denoting solidarity. The negative connotation applies primarily to commerce and imitation.
For the business/imitation sense, use the hyphenated adjective 'me-too'. For the social movement, use the capitalized 'MeToo', often with a hashtag: #MeToo. The phrase 'me too' (two words) is for simple agreement.
Yes, informally, especially in business/journalistic contexts (e.g., 'They me-tooed our product'). It is less common than its adjectival use.
It originated in mid-20th century American marketing, deriding products that merely claim 'me too!' in comparison to a successful pioneer.
Describing something that imitates or copies a successful product, idea, or movement, often without original innovation.
Me-too is usually informal, journalistic, business in register.
Me-too: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmiː ˈtuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmi ˈtuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Jump on the bandwagon (related for business sense)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ME TOO want that success' – copying someone else's achievement.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMITATION IS FOLLOWING A PATH (for business). SOLIDARITY IS SHARING A VOICE (for the movement).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'me-too' MOST LIKELY have a positive or neutral connotation?