metaverse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2 / Low to Medium (Rapidly growing in tech/business contexts)Formal, Technical, Business, Futuristic, Marketing
Quick answer
What does “metaverse” mean?
A shared, persistent, immersive digital universe, typically accessed via virtual or augmented reality technologies, where users can interact with each other and digital objects in real-time.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A shared, persistent, immersive digital universe, typically accessed via virtual or augmented reality technologies, where users can interact with each other and digital objects in real-time.
1) A speculative future evolution of the internet, characterized by interconnected, interoperable 3D virtual spaces. 2) In corporate and tech discourse, a term for a company's specific virtual platform or ecosystem.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. The concept and term are used identically.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be used with a note of skepticism or caution in British media, while American tech/business discourse may use it more aspirationally.
Frequency
Equally frequent in tech and business contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “metaverse” in a Sentence
the + metaverse + of + [ENTITY] (the metaverse of fashion)[POSSESSIVE] + metaverse (Meta's metaverse)in/within the + metaverse (work in the metaverse)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “metaverse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company hopes to metaverse-ify its customer service.
- They're not just gaming; they're metaversing.
American English
- The platform aims to metaverse the shopping experience.
- He spends hours metaversing with his remote team.
adverb
British English
- The event was held metaversely, attracting a global audience.
- They work almost entirely metaversely now.
American English
- The class is taught metaversely twice a week.
- The assets exist purely metaversely.
adjective
British English
- Metaverse economies are a focus for regulators.
- She is a metaverse fashion designer.
American English
- Metaverse real estate prices are fluctuating.
- They secured metaverse-first advertising rights.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a new market, platform for commerce, digital real estate, or corporate strategy (e.g., 'We're investing in metaverse retail solutions.').
Academic
Discussed in fields like computer science, sociology, and media studies regarding digital identity, economics, and the future of human interaction.
Everyday
Used with varying levels of understanding, often in discussions about future tech, video games, or VR headsets.
Technical
Specifies a network of shared, persistent virtual environments with specific protocols for identity, ownership, and interoperability.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “metaverse”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “metaverse”
- Using 'metaverse' to refer to any VR game or app (it implies larger scale/interconnectivity).
- Treating it as a proper noun requiring capitalization when used generically (cf. 'the internet').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. VR is a technology for experiencing immersive environments. The metaverse is a conceptual digital universe that one might *access* using VR, but also through other means like screens.
Fully, no. Elements of it exist in various online games, social platforms, and VR spaces, but a single, interconnected, and universally accessible 'metaverse' as often depicted remains a future goal.
The term was coined by author Neal Stephenson in his 1992 science fiction novel *Snow Crash* to describe a persistent virtual reality-based successor to the internet.
They are related but distinct concepts. The metaverse refers to immersive, 3D virtual worlds. Web3 refers to a vision of a decentralised internet built on blockchain technology, which could underpin the economy and ownership systems within a metaverse.
A shared, persistent, immersive digital universe, typically accessed via virtual or augmented reality technologies, where users can interact with each other and digital objects in real-time.
Metaverse is usually formal, technical, business, futuristic, marketing in register.
Metaverse: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmet.ə.vɜːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmet̬.ə.vɝːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms yet. The term itself is novel.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'META' (beyond) + 'VERSE' (as in universe). It's the universe *beyond* our physical one.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE INTERNET/ DIGITAL SPACE IS A PHYSICAL PLACE (to navigate, enter, build in).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST accurate description of the core concept of 'the metaverse'?