meta

adj. describing something that refers to itself or its own type, like a joke about jokes.

adj. self-referential; describing a work of art or a situation that refers to itself or the conventions of its genre.

“The movie was very meta because the characters knew they were in a film.”

“The play's meta narrative, featuring actors discussing their roles mid-scene, challenged the audience's perception of theatrical reality.”

Informal

n. the most effective way to play a game at a specific time.

n. the current dominant strategy or set of tactics used by players in a competitive game; a clipping of 'metagame'.

“After the new update, using fire spells became the new meta.”

“Professional players are constantly analyzing the meta to determine which character builds offer the highest win rate in the current patch.”

Slang · Informal

n. the parent company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

n. the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Inc., which operates major social media services.

“Meta announced new privacy settings for all its social media apps.”

“The rebranding of the corporation to Meta signaled a strategic shift toward developing the so-called metaverse.”