Meta (prefix)

Meta (from the Greek μετά, meta, meaning "after" or "beyond") is an adjective meaning "more comprehensive" or "transcending".

In modern nomenclature, the prefix meta- can also serve as a prefix meaning self-referential, as a field of study or endeavor (metatheory: theory about a theory; metamathematics: mathematical theories about mathematics; meta-axiomatics or meta-axiomaticity: axioms about axiomatic systems; metahumor: joking about the ways humor is expressed; etc.).