meatspace: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowslang, jargon (primarily internet/tech culture)
Quick answer
What does “meatspace” mean?
The physical, tangible world inhabited by human bodies, as opposed to cyberspace or virtual reality.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The physical, tangible world inhabited by human bodies, as opposed to cyberspace or virtual reality.
Refers to non-digital, offline life and interactions; the realm of physical existence and face-to-face social contact.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Usage is more common in tech-savvy communities in both regions.
Connotations
Slightly more ironic or literary in British usage; more direct in American tech jargon.
Frequency
Equally low in both, but slightly more established in American internet culture due to its origins.
Grammar
How to Use “meatspace” in a Sentence
in + meatspace (e.g., 'things are different in meatspace')return to + meatspacemeatspace + noun (e.g., meatspace meeting)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meatspace” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He preferred meatspace chess to the online version.
American English
- She finally had a meatspace meetup with her online book club.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used humorously in tech companies to distinguish in-office work from remote work.
Academic
Very rare, possibly in media studies or sociology papers discussing digital culture.
Everyday
Almost never used in general conversation; confined to internet-savvy individuals.
Technical
Used in tech, gaming, and online community discussions as a jargon term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meatspace”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meatspace”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meatspace”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Misspelling as 'meetspace'.
- Using it without the ironic/digital context, leading to confusion.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal slang originating from cyberpunk and internet culture.
No, it is almost exclusively used as a noun. The related term 'meatspacing' (meeting in person) is extremely rare slang.
It emerged in the 1990s as a playful, somewhat dystopian counterpart to 'cyberspace', reflecting the view of the physical body as mere 'meat'.
It can be seen as reductive or dehumanizing if used without its typical ironic, in-group context. It is generally not appropriate for serious or respectful discussion of physical life.
The physical, tangible world inhabited by human bodies, as opposed to cyberspace or virtual reality.
Meatspace: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːtˌspeɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmitˌspeɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All meat, no space.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of your body as 'meat' that exists in a physical 'space' – opposite of a digital avatar in a virtual space.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE PHYSICAL WORLD IS A CONTAINER FOR FLESH (contrasted with THE DIGITAL WORLD IS A CONTAINER FOR DATA).
Practice
Quiz
'Meatspace' is primarily a term used to contrast with: