META

What Does META Mean in a Text?

Gaming Slang for Newbies

If you're new to gaming, then there is more to learn than just a game's moves and strategy. Gamers should also be familiar with gaming slang, which has around 200 terms in common usage, many of which are difficult for new players to guess. But, you should persevere. Understanding gaming jargon improves collaboration by helping gamers to convey complex strategies, emotions, and actions quickly. Here is the term you care about:

The word META means "Beyond," "Transcending," or "About." In gaming it is an abbreviation that means "Most Effective Tactics Available."

Beyond, Transcending, or About

The word META is a prefix of Greek origin with a large number of meanings, including "after," "beyond," "transcending," and "about" (as in "pertaining to"). When combined with words in English, META often signifies change or alteration (as in "metamorphic" and "metabolic"), or indicates a focus on a specific subject (as in metadata (data about data) and metajoke (a joke about a joke)). For example:

Toni: How many members of a certain demographic group does it take to perform a specified task?
Jo: I don't know, but I'm sure you're about to tell me.
Toni: A finite number: one to perform the task and the remainder to act in a manner stereotypical of the group in question.
Jo: Very META!

The word META hit the headlines in October 2021, when Facebook announced that it was planning to change its parent company name to META and hire 10,000 people in the European Union to develop the metaverse.

Most Effective Tactics Available

In gaming, META means using knowledge about the game itself to master the game (i.e., metagaming). It has been defined as using the "Most Effective Tactics Available" to win a game or progress to the next level.

Image for META

When I write META, I mean this:

"Beyond, Transcending, or About"

Summary of Key Points for the First Definition of META

"Beyond, Transcending, or About" is, by far, the most common meaning for META when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)