meta

¹ American  

[met-uh] / ˈmɛt ə /

adjective

1. pertaining to or noting a story, conversation, character, etc., that consciously references or comments upon its own subject or features, often in the form of parody.

   A movie about making a movie is just so meta—especially when the actors criticize the acting.

2. pertaining to or noting an abstract, high-level analysis or commentary, especially one that consciously references something of its own type.

---

noun

1. a consciously and playfully self-referential story, conversation, etc..

   That dialogue was an example of meta at its best.

2. an abstract, high-level analysis or commentary.

   writing a meta to explain the character’s motivation.

verb (used without object)

1. to analyze or comment on something in a meta way.

   I spend more time metaing about the show than actually watching it.

meta ² American  

[mee-tuh] / ˈmi tə /

noun

plural

metae

1. (in ancient Rome) a column or post, or a group of columns or posts, placed at each end of a racetrack to mark the turning places.

---

meta ³ American  

[met-uh] / ˈmɛt ə /

adjective

Chemistry.

1. pertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 3) in the benzene ring that are separated by one carbon atom.

---

meta ⁴ American  

[met-uh] / ˈmɛt ə /

noun

Slang.

1. a shortened form of metamour.

---

Meta ⁵ American  

[mee-tuh] / ˈmi tə /

noun

1. a female given name.

---

meta- ⁶ American  

1. a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, with the meanings “after,” “along with,” “beyond,” “among,” “behind,” and productive in English on the Greek model.

   metacarpus; metagenesis.

2. a prefix added to the name of a subject and designating another subject that analyzes the original one but at a more abstract, higher level.

   metaphilosophy; metalinguistics.

3. a prefix added to the name of something that consciously references or comments upon its own subject or features.

   a meta-painting of an artist painting a canvas.

4. Chemistry.

   1. (of acids, salts, or their organic derivatives) a prefix denoting the least hydrated of a series.

      meta-antimonic, HSbO3;

      meta-antimonous, HSbO2.

   2. a prefix designating the meta position in the benzene ring. m-.

---

meta- ¹ British  

prefix

1. indicating change, alteration, or alternation

   metabolism

   metamorphosis

2. (of an academic discipline, esp philosophy) concerned with the concepts and results of the named discipline See also metatheory

   metamathematics

   meta-ethics

3. occurring or situated behind or after

   metaphase

4.  m-.  (often in italics) denoting that an organic compound contains a benzene ring with substituents in the 1,3-positions Compare ortho- para- 1

   metadinitrobenzene

   meta-cresol

5. denoting an isomer, polymer, or compound related to a specified compound (often differing from similar compounds that are prefixed by para- )

   metaldehyde

6. denoting an oxyacid that is a lower hydrated form of the anhydride or a salt of such an acid Compare ortho-

   metaphosphoric acid

---

Meta ² British  

/ ˈmeɪtə, ˈmeta /

noun

1. a river in Colombia, rising in the Andes and flowing northeast and east, forming part of the border between Colombia and Venezuela, to join the Orinoco River. Length: about 1000 km (620 miles)

---

Usage

What does else meta mean? Meta is when something refers back to or is about itself, like a book about books or a meme about memes.

Etymology

Origin of meta¹

First recorded in 2010–15; adjective and noun use of meta- ( def. )

Origin of meta²

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin mēta “cone, turning post”

Origin of meta³

First recorded in 1875–80; independent use of meta-

Origin of meta⁴

First recorded in 2010–15

Origin of meta-⁶

From Greek, prefix and preposition; cognate with Old English mid “with,” German mit, Gothic mith

Example Sentences

Call it a bit of meta, Charlie Kaufman-esque curation amid a week of art events anchored by Frieze, the massive international fair that opens today.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

It was the perfect middle ground between Sean Bateman, Dawson Leery and Van Der Beek himself, a meta character that only an actor with a massive reserve of humility could pull off.

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026

In a meta move, the company later in 2023 released Ken dolls modeled after Ryan Gosling’s portrayal of Ken.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

"Anaconda," the new meta comedy action flick starring Paul Rudd and Jack Black as friends trying to reboot the original 1997 horror film, finished in fifth place with $10 million.

From Barron's • Jan. 4, 2026

Con el libro en alto cumplimos una meta: llevar a toda Cuba la alfabetización.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar