In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a memory device, including a plurality of content addressable memory (CAM) units arranged in rows and columns and configured to store a plurality of data states, respectively. A CAM unit of the plurality of CAM units includes a first ferroelectric memory element, a plurality of word lines extending along the rows and configured to provide a search query to the plurality of CAM units for bitwise comparison between the search query and the data states of the plurality of CAM units, and a plurality of match lines extending along the columns and configured to output a plurality of match signals, respectively from respective columns of CAM units. A match signal of a column is asserted when the data states of the respective CAM units of the column match corresponding bits of the search query.