Definition
The most effective or optimal strategy, build, or approach. Originally 'Most Effective Tactics Available' (backronym) from competitive gaming where 'the meta' is whatever strategy currently dominates. Now used outside gaming: 'the meta for the SAT is practice tests' or 'the meta for getting a good grade is sitting in the front row.' It means the proven winning strategy.
Translation for Parents
When your kid talks about 'the meta,' they mean the best known strategy for something. It's from competitive video games where there's always one character or approach that's statistically the best. But they use it for everything now. The meta for packing lunch? Bento boxes, apparently. It's just a fancy way of saying 'the optimal approach.'
Examples
“the meta for this class is just doing the extra credit”
“The best strategy for this class is just doing the extra credit assignments”
“wearing layers is the meta for unpredictable weather”
“Wearing layers is the best strategy for unpredictable weather”
Cringe Score
Mildly embarrassing
Actually a useful concept that more adults should adopt. 'The meta for highway driving is the right lane' is a sentence you could say and your kid might actually respect you for three seconds.
Category
general
Last Verified
2026-02-26
Sources
editorial, urban_dictionary