metadata
noun
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How Metadata Was Formed
It's easy to find data on the source of "metadata": the word was formed by combining "data" with "meta-," which means "transcending" and is often used to describe a new but related discipline designed to deal critically with the original one. "Meta-" was first used in that way in "metaphysics" and has been extended to a number of other disciplines, giving us such words as "metapsychology" and "metamathematics." "Metadata" takes the "transcending" aspect a step further, applying it to the concept of pure information instead of a discipline. "Metadata" is a fairly new word (it appeared in the latter half of the 20th century), whereas "data" can be traced back to the middle of the 17th century.
Examples of metadata in a Sentence
Steven Melendez,
Scientific American,
2 July 2026
That is why metadata and observability are becoming increasingly important in the AI era.
—
Shane Buckley,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Improving search engine visibility means considering your content structure, optimizing your pages for easy online reading and clarity, and ensuring your most important content is referenced in your headers and metadata.
—
Matthew Kayser,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
In response, the DA’s office provided metadata showing that some of the letters had been created in 2025.
—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for metadata
Cite this Entry
“Metadata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metadata. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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