Meanings
meta-1
prefix
alternative met-
- obsoletearchitectureSituated between two segments.First known use 19th century
- biochemistryRelating to metabolism.
meta-2
prefix
alternative met-
- Transcending, encompassing.
- Pertaining to a level above or beyond; reflexive or recursive; about itself or about other things of the same type. For example, metadata is data that describes data, metalanguage is language that describes language, etc.First known use 17th century
- Having analogies with metaphysics.
meta-3
prefix
alternative met-
- geographyModified by metamorphosis; analogies and derivatives of metamorphism.First known use 19th century
meta-4
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
meta- · prefix
- Proto-Indo-European*me
- Proto-Indo-European*meth₂?
- Ancient Greekμετᾰ́ (metắ)
- Ancient Greekμετᾰ- (metă-)
- Englishmeta-
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek μετα- (meta-), from μετά (metá), from Mycenaean Greek 𐀕𐀲 (me-ta), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *meth₂ (“in the middle”).
More words from Ancient Greek, gmy
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech meta-
- meta-pertaining to a level above or beyond; reflexive or recursive; about itself or about other things of the same type
Finnish meta-, meta-
- meta-anatomy, zoology: behind
- meta-botany, zoology: later or subsequent
- meta-chemistry: having fewer molecules of water than the ortho- equivalent
- meta-chemistry: contrasted with ortho- and para-
- meta-transcending, encompassing
- meta-pertaining to a level above or beyond; reflexive or recursive; about itself or about other things of the same type
- meta-having analogies with metaphysics
- meta-geology: analogies and derivatives of metamorphism
- meta-pathology: consequent on
French méta-, méta-
- méta-anatomy, zoology: behind
- méta-chemistry: contrasted with ortho- and para-
- méta-transcending, encompassing
- méta-pertaining to a level above or beyond; reflexive or recursive; about itself or about other things of the same type
- méta-having analogies with metaphysics
- méta-geology: analogies and derivatives of metamorphism
- méta-pathology: consequent on
Greek μετα-, μετα-
- μετα- (meta-)anatomy, zoology: behind
- μετα- (meta-)botany, zoology: later or subsequent
- μετα- (meta-)chemistry: having fewer molecules of water than the ortho- equivalent
- μετα- (meta-)chemistry: contrasted with ortho- and para-
- μετα- (meta-)transcending, encompassing
- μετα- (meta-)pertaining to a level above or beyond; reflexive or recursive; about itself or about other things of the same type
- μετα- (meta-)having analogies with metaphysics
- μετα- (meta-)pathology: consequent on
Hindi अधि-, अधि-
- अधि- (adhi-)transcending, encompassing
- अधि- (adhi-)pertaining to a level above or beyond; reflexive or recursive; about itself or about other things of the same type
Japanese メタ
- メタ (meta-)chemistry: contrasted with ortho- and para-
Polish meta-, meta-
- meta-anatomy, zoology: behind
- meta-botany, zoology: later or subsequent
- meta-chemistry: having fewer molecules of water than the ortho- equivalent
- meta-chemistry: contrasted with ortho- and para-
- meta-transcending, encompassing
- meta-pertaining to a level above or beyond; reflexive or recursive; about itself or about other things of the same type
- meta-having analogies with metaphysics
- meta-geology: analogies and derivatives of metamorphism
- meta-pathology: consequent on
Russian ме́та-, ме́та-
- ме́та- (méta-)anatomy, zoology: behind
- ме́та- (méta-)botany, zoology: later or subsequent
- ме́та- (méta-)chemistry: having fewer molecules of water than the ortho- equivalent
- ме́та- (méta-)chemistry: contrasted with ortho- and para-
- ме́та- (méta-)transcending, encompassing
- ме́та- (méta-)pertaining to a level above or beyond; reflexive or recursive; about itself or about other things of the same type
- ме́та- (méta-)having analogies with metaphysics
- ме́та- (méta-)geology: analogies and derivatives of metamorphism
- ме́та- (méta-)pathology: consequent on
Spanish mala, meta-
- malaanatomy, zoology: behind
- meta-chemistry: having fewer molecules of water than the ortho- equivalent
- meta-chemistry: contrasted with ortho- and para-
- meta-pertaining to a level above or beyond; reflexive or recursive; about itself or about other things of the same type
- meta-having analogies with metaphysics
- meta-geology: analogies and derivatives of metamorphism
- meta-pathology: consequent on
Cite this entry
APA
meta-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/meta-
MLA
“meta-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/meta-. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “meta-,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/meta-.
Source: meta- on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.