metadata

[met-uh-dey-tuh, ‐-dat-uh, ‐-dah-tuh]

noun

(usually used with a singular verb)

1. data that describes, annotates, or gives information about other data, including but not limited to tags in a programming code, information about a digital file's characteristics, or a library catalog showing the location and call number of books: In their surveillance operations, intelligence agencies were able to access such metadata as the phone numbers involved and duration of phone calls.

   Search engine spiders use content and HTML metadata to index websites.

   In their surveillance operations, intelligence agencies were able to access such metadata as the phone numbers involved and duration of phone calls.

metadata

plural noun

1. computing information that is held as a description of stored data

Word History and Origins

Origin of metadata¹

First recorded in 1965–70; meta- (in the sense “analyzing material at a higher level”) + data ( def. )

Example Sentences

Videos shot on mobiles carry metadata, which includes the digital record of the time, date and place where they were shot.

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But suspicions of conspiracy were only turbocharged by the release of the tape, which Wired first reported had three minutes cut from the original footage, according to metadata of the file.

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Prosecutors showed the jury photos of a puncture and bruise on Ms Bongolan's leg, along with accompanying metadata displaying the date they were taken.

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We determined when each was taken using camera metadata, livestream timings and public clocks visible in the shots.

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In addition to customers’ genetic information, 23andMe is also in possession of other highly sensitive data, “extensive questionnaires and additional metadata about individuals,” Erika Gray, co-founder and chief medical officer of Toolbox Genomics, told Salon.

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