Meta
Abbreviation of Most Effective Tactic Available. Mostly used when comparing tactics in a game,
It would make sense, but seeing as that use of Meta is only documented in the last couple of years, whereas 'meta' has been in use for at least half a decade, I suspect that it is a backnonym: An abbreviation applied after the fact.
ie: It meant meta-game for years, then shifted to mean generally 'the best thing to do' via misuse, and only *then* did someone decide that it stood for 'most effective tactic available'.
A bit like all those trite little stories telling us that the origin of a word is an abbreviation 'for unlawful carnal knowledge' and suchlike: Sounds true, but not.
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Thanks for explaining the term.
If people want to use an acronym, they ought to use all caps: META to prevent confusion with the original meaning.
I suspect that many people never knew the original meaning, heard it one application and started mis-using it in another. The backronym then redefines the word to make it mean what is being used for: "I'm not using the word wrong because it stands for *blah*!"
(A bit like my ancient, racist aunt who tried telling me that an offensive word was ok because it was an abbreviation of something legitimate sounding.)