Meanings
plural metatemplates · alternative meta-template
- A template which forms the basis for other templates.
To index the knowledge base PAR employs meta-templates and super-sets in a corresponding manner.
1977, 5th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence – 1977 IJCAI-77, International Joint Conferences on Artificial Intelligence, →ISBN, page 210, →ISBN1 more example
The template–copy relationship might sometimes involve more levels. A general living-kind-categorization metatemplate could project, not directly concepts, but other, more specific templates for different domains of living kinds.
1994, Dan Sperber, “The modularity of thought and the epidemiology of representations” in Mapping the Mind: Domain Specificity in Cognition and Culture (Cambridge University Press), eds. Lawrence A. Hirschfeld and Susan A. Gelman, page 48
Origin
First attested hyphenated in 1977 and first attested unhyphenated in 1994; formed as meta- + template.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
metatemplate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metatemplate
“metatemplate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metatemplate. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “metatemplate,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metatemplate.
Source: metatemplate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.