What Does the Prefix Meta- Mean?

What is the Meaning of the Prefix Meta-?

We can thank the ancient Greeks for lots of things—democracy, the Hippocratic oath, and libraries, to name a few. But there are so many words that have Greek roots that we use every day without thinking about it. One of these words is the prefix meta-. The original meaning of this prefix is “occurring later than or in succession to,” “situated behind or beyond,” or “a later, or more highly organized or specialized form.”

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Another definition of meta indicates a change or transformation. Maybe even a metamorphosis.

If you find yourself fascinated by the metaphysical, you may be interested in things that have transcended the natural world. This third meaning indicates something more comprehensive than the original.

A More Modern Definition of Meta

While the original definition still holds true, the meaning of the prefix meta- has evolved in modern times into an informal standalone adjective. When meta is used as an adjective, it conveys a certain amount of awareness of oneself or of one’s group, family, or category. This word is used for clever self-reflection or self-referencing.

Instances that might be considered meta include:

• Characters in a TV show, book, or movie addressing the audience and acknowledging that they are part of the media, rather than real life. Consider when characters directly address the viewers or episodes that spoof film genres, specifically a “bottle episode”—an episode that takes place only in one room—which is frequently referred to as such.
• Actors in a production directly addressing their advertisers. Liz Lemon and her cohorts often look directly into the camera after a product placement and ask, “Can we have our money now?”
• A form of media that contains a character who is actively composing the same type of media. There are thousands of novels with characters who are actively composing novels themselves.
• Self-referential art: A painting of a lamp that is wired to light up. A comic strip about drawing comic strips. Stitching a sewing machine patch on a jacket with a sewing machine. A YouTube video about other YouTube videos. Podcasts that comment on and review other podcasts.

What Does Meta Mean in Gaming?

The prefix meta- has been co-opted by the gaming community. Instead of its original use as a prefix or its more modern usage as an adjective, in gaming it’s an acronym for “Most Effective Tactics Available.” In gaming, this refers to the best course of action that can be taken to complete a task or win the game. It can also refer to someone who is the best at a specific task.

Using Meta in Your Writing

Whether you’re looking to write a self-referential screenplay, completing research about transformations, or figuring out a plan to complete a quest in the newest game you’re playing, Microsoft can help you get the job done. With helpful writing templates for a variety of needs, you can focus on the contents of your leading lady’s novel or screenplay.