# Meta

/ˈmitə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/meta
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. self-referential

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Usually used as a predicative adjective after 'is' or 'seems'.

### 2. gaming strategy

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

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

For teachers: 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.

Teaching tip: Common in esports and gaming communities; often used to describe what is currently 'optimal'.

### 3. the company

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The movie is very meta because the characters know they are in a film.
- The comedian's routine became increasingly meta as he started making jokes about the audience's reaction to his previous jokes.
- Postmodern literature frequently employs meta narratives to challenge the reader's expectations, forcing an awareness of the text as a constructed object rather than a transparent window into a fictional world.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.