metadata: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “metadata” mean?
Data that provides information about other data, describing its characteristics, structure, context, or origin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Data that provides information about other data, describing its characteristics, structure, context, or origin.
Structured information used to manage, locate, understand, or preserve digital assets; descriptive, administrative, or structural tags for data.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or usage differences. Spelling and pronunciation are identical.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equal frequency in technical, academic, and business contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “metadata” in a Sentence
N + of + N (metadata of the file)N + about + N (metadata about the image)V + N (extract metadata)Adj + N (embedded metadata)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “metadata” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No established verb form]
- [No established verb form]
American English
- [No established verb form]
- [No established verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No adverb form]
- [No adverb form]
American English
- [No adverb form]
- [No adverb form]
adjective
British English
- [Rarely used adjectivally. Use attributive noun: 'metadata standard']
- [Rarely used adjectivally. Use attributive noun: 'metadata field']
American English
- [Rarely used adjectivally. Use attributive noun: 'metadata schema']
- [Rarely used adjectivally. Use attributive noun: 'metadata management']
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Crucial for data governance, compliance (e.g., GDPR), and data asset management.
Academic
Essential in digital humanities, library science, and research data management for citation and reproducibility.
Everyday
Rare. May be encountered when discussing photo details (EXIF data) or file properties.
Technical
Core concept in computing, databases, and information science for organising and retrieving digital objects.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “metadata”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “metadata”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “metadata”
- Treating it as a countable noun (e.g., 'metadatas').
- Confusing it with the primary data content itself.
- Using plural verb agreement (e.g., 'The metadata are...').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is treated as a singular mass noun in standard English (e.g., 'The metadata is incomplete').
For a digital photo: the date taken, camera model, GPS coordinates, and file size are all metadata about the image file.
Relatively new. It emerged in the late 20th century with the rise of computer and information science, from the prefix 'meta-' (meaning 'about') + 'data'.
It is primarily a technical term. In everyday talk, you might use simpler phrases like 'file details' or 'photo information' instead.
Metadata is usually formal, technical, academic in register.
Metadata: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmet.əˌdeɪ.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmet̬.əˌdeɪ.t̬ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a library card catalogue. The cards (METADATA) aren't the books (DATA), but they tell you the author, title, and location.
Conceptual Metaphor
DATA IS AN OBJECT, METADATA IS A LABEL ON THE OBJECT.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'metadata'?