This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Monday, March 16, 2026 (23 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Monday puzzles are the easiest of the week, so the clue is likely a plain definition.
Answer length: 4 squares
First letter
M _ _ _
First and last letters
M _ _ A
Show the answer
About the answer
META as a word: (by extension, countable, Internet slang) An informal but widely adopted practice in a given field; a de facto standard; (informal) Self-referential; structured analogously (structured by relationships), but at a higher level.
META has been an answer 3 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since January 1, 2026.
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