Try Our Apps


Is irregardless a word?


[mee-tuh] /ˈmi tə/
noun, plural metae
Origin of meta1
1570-80; < Latin mēta cone, turning post


[met-uh] /ˈmɛt ə/
adjective, Chemistry.
pertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 3) in the benzene ring that are separated by one carbon atom.
Compare ortho, para3 .
1875-80; independent use of meta-


[met-uh] /ˈmɛt ə/
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.
a consciously and playfully self-referential story, conversation, etc.:
That dialogue was an example of meta at its best.
an abstract, high-level analysis or commentary:
writing a meta to explain the character’s motivation.
verb (used without object)
to analyze or comment on something in a meta way:
I spend more time metaing about the show than actually watching it.


[mee-tuh] /ˈmi tə/
a female given name.


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.
metaphilosophy; metalinguistics.
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.
  1. (of acids, salts, or their organic derivatives) a prefix denoting the least hydrated of a series: meta-antimonic, HSbO3;
    meta-antimonous, HSbO2.
    Compare ortho-, pyro-.
  2. a prefix designating the meta position in the benzene ring.
    Abbreviation: m-.
    Compare ortho-, para-1 .
Also, especially before a vowel, met-.
< Greek, prefix and preposition; cognate with Old English mid ‘with’, German mit, Gothic mith Unabridged
Cite This Source
Examples from the Web for meta
Contemporary Examples
Historical Examples
  • The west extreme of this island lies east and west with the point of meta.

  • meta Beggs was so close to Gordon that their shoulders touched.

    Mountain Blood Joseph Hergesheimer
  • I tried it with you, meta, because I knew Bart's presence would reassure you.

    The Colors of Space Marion Zimmer Bradley
  • Another cup of tea, please, and don't be stingy with the sugar, meta.

    The Manor House School Angela Brazil
  • "These lifeboats are half buried in the ship," meta explained.

    Deathworld Harry Harrison
British Dictionary definitions for meta


/ˈmeɪtə; Spanish ˈmeta/
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)


indicating change, alteration, or alternation: metabolism, metamorphosis
(of an academic discipline, esp philosophy) concerned with the concepts and results of the named discipline: metamathematics, meta-ethics See also metatheory
occurring or situated behind or after: metaphase
(often in italics) denoting that an organic compound contains a benzene ring with substituents in the 1,3-positions: metadinitrobenzene, meta-cresol, m- Compare ortho- (sense 4), para-1 (sense 6)
denoting an isomer, polymer, or compound related to a specified compound (often differing from similar compounds that are prefixed by para-): metaldehyde
denoting an oxyacid that is a lower hydrated form of the anhydride or a salt of such an acid: metaphosphoric acid Compare ortho- (sense 5)
Word Origin
Greek, from meta with, after, between, among. Compare Old English mid, mith with, Old Norse meth with, between
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
Cite This Source
Contemporary definitions for meta



That book is so meta.


something with refers to itself, esp. in self-parodying manner


A movie-within-a-movie is an example of meta.

Word Origin

meta 'beyond''s 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2014, LLC
Cite This Source
Word Origin and History for meta




Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
meta in Medicine

meta- or met-

  1. Later in time: metestrus.

  2. At a later stage of development: metanephros.

  3. Situated behind: metacarpus.

  4. Change; transformation: metachromatism.

  5. Alternation: metagenesis.

  6. Beyond; transcending; more comprehensive: metapsychology.

  7. At a higher state of development: metazoan.

  8. Having undergone metamorphosis: metamyelocyte.

  9. Derivative or related chemical substance: metaprotein.

  10. Abbr. m- Of or relating to one of three possible isomers of a benzene ring with two attached chemical groups, in which the carbon atoms with attached groups are separated by one unsubstituted carbon atom. Usually used in italic: meta-dibromobenzene.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Cite This Source
meta in Technology

The assembly language for the CYBER 200, developed at CDC ca 1977.
[CDC Pub 60256020].
[Jargon File]

For example, a metasyntax is syntax for specifying syntax, metalanguage is a language used to discuss language, meta-data is data about data, and meta-reasoning is reasoning about reasoning.
[Jargon File]

Cite This Source

Word of the Day

Difficulty index for meta

Most English speakers likely know this word

Word Value for meta

Scrabble Words With Friends

Nearby words for meta