Standard Lemma guide

metaprogramming

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The writing of computer programs that write or manipulate other programs or themselves as their data, or that perform operations at runtime that would typically be done at compile time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: computer programming, programming

Narrower terms: template metaprogramming

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek μετᾰ́ (metắ) Ancient Greek μετᾰ- (metă-)lbor. English meta- English programming English metaprogramming From meta- + programming.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: metaprogramování — writing of computer programs that write or manipulate programs as data
  • Finnish: metaohjelmointi — writing of computer programs that write or manipulate programs as data
  • Georgian: მეტაპროგრამირება (meṭaṗrogramireba) — writing of computer programs that write or manipulate programs as data
  • German: Metaprogrammierung — writing of computer programs that write or manipulate programs as data
  • Portuguese: metaprogramação — writing of computer programs that write or manipulate programs as data