About

Meta, also known as Metagaming, is a slang expression used to describe something that’s self-referencing. In informal use of the term found online, meta is used to describe a thing about itself, such as a comment referring to another comment or a meme about memes. In gaming, meta is usually intended to explain the optimal build or strategy and is frequently used as shorthand for the acronym “Most Effective Tactic Available.” Although its use is common among esports, MMOs or other competitive multiplayer games, the term commonly appears online in a range of various uses.

Origin

The word “meta” originally stems from the Ancient Greeks, who used it to imply “beyond” or “after” (similar to the Latin “post-” prefix) but in modern language, it is typically used as a prefix to show when something is referring to itself. Before the internet adapted the term, meta was primarily used in scientific terms as a prefix, such as “metaphysics.”

The exact first use of the term appearing online in its modern sense is unknown, but according to Dictionary.com’s^[1] definition of the word, “meta” took root in gaming communities sometime during the 1990s to 2000s, and “metagaming” was used in the late 1990s by Dungeons & Dragons players to refer to “an in-game character unfairly using information gathered outside of the game world by their player.”

Spread

Another common expression in early usage is “that’s so meta,” which was discussed on December 25th, 2005, in a New York Times^[2] article, titled “What's the Meta?”

Within the gaming community, particularly with MOBAs (multiplayer online battle arenas), it appears frequently in use around the early 2010s alongside the acronym, Most Effective Tactic Available. On June 4th, 2012, MobaFire^[3] user IOWNEDYA posted the term (seen below) in a forum thread that explained the meaning as it applies to League of Legends.

On September 10th, 2015, a Reddit^[4] thread posted to the /r/OutOfTheLoop subreddit asked the question, “What the fuck does meta mean?” The top reply from Redditor johnadreams said:

"Meta" is a prefix meaning "referring to itself." This has evolved into a variety of meanings that are used today. In games, the "meta" is referring to what are the strongest strategies currently. For example, in League of Legends the "meta" is a phrase that means whatever champions are strongest at the moment. This can fluctuate because of patches that change balance and just because champions that are counters to the strongest then become strong themselves. In comments, a "meta" comment refers to a comment that refers to another comment in the post. For example if someone makes a reference to another comment in the post it is said to be "meta." In subreddits, a "meta" subreddit deals with talk about the subreddit. For example, if you want to talk about how r/TIL is run you can post in their meta subreddit. Since not all subreddits are big enough for their own meta subreddit, sometimes "meta" posts are made meant to discuss how things are run in the subreddit by moderators and the community. In art, a "meta" work is one that refers to itself. For example a "metafiction" story might have a character realize that he's in a story. It can also be more subtle, for example a film about making films is also "meta."

The term was added to Urban Dictionary^[5] on February 22nd, 2017, by user pcheolsu (shown below), where it received over 1,600 likes for the definition, “1. Meta means about the thing itself. It's seeing the thing from a higher perspective instead of from within the thing, like being self-aware. 2. A term used in mmo meaning the Most Effective Tactic Available. It's basically what works in a game regardless of what you wish would work.”

On June 29th, 2016, YouTuber^[6] Sensei Pong explained the meaning of meta in a gaming context in his video, “What Does Meta, Metagame, and Metagaming Mean?” that received over 14,000 views, 253 likes and 50 comments (seen below, left). On May 25th, 2019, YouTuber^[7] JinJinx and Tuna also uploaded a video discussing the term (seen below, right), receiving over 19,000 views, 800 likes and 180 comments.

On August 1st, 2018, Twitter^[8] user SirDimetrious tweeted an example using meta in relation to the game Fortnite (shown below), receiving 730 likes and 69 retweets.

Search Interest

External References