Self-referential Crossword Clue

A warm welcome to all crossword lovers!
Its time to solve "Self-referential" crossword clue for today's "L.A. Times Daily" daily crossword.

Understanding Today's Crossword Puzzle

The clue for today is "Self-referential" and the answer is "META."

The term "self-referential" can be understood as something that refers to itself. In the context of crossword puzzles, "META" is a commonly used answer because it literally refers to the puzzle itself. Here's why this clue has the answer "META":

1. Crossword Clue: The clue itself, "Self-referential," suggests that the answer is related to the puzzle or refers to itself.
2. Definition of "META": In general usage, the word "meta" is derived from the Greek preposition µet? (meaning "beyond" or "after"), and it is often used to indicate something that is self-aware or self-referential.
3. Application in Crossword Puzzles: In crossword puzzles, "META" is used as a short form of "metatext" or "metadata." It refers to any clue, answer, or element within the puzzle that is self-referential or refers to the puzzle itself.
4. Examples: Some examples of crossword clues where "META" can be the answer include: "Puzzle lover's delight" (Answer: META), "Crossword reference" (Answer: META), or "Word that describes itself" (Answer: META).

In conclusion, the clue "Self-referential" has the answer "META" because it refers to something that is self-aware or self-referential, which is a common concept in crossword puzzles. The answer "META" is widely recognized and understood within the crossword-solving community.

Definition of "META"

(of a creative work) referring to itself or to the conventions of its genre; self-referential

Example :

the enterprise is inherently ‘meta’, since it doesn't review movies, for example, it reviews the reviewers who review movies

 The Crossword clue "Self-referential" published 41 time/s & has 1 answer/s. 

Crossword	Date	Answer
L.A. Times Daily	28 January 2024	META
Eugene Sheffer – King Feature Syndicate	24 January 2024	META
USA Today	24 January 2024	META
New York Times	11 December 2023	META
Universal	9 November 2023	META
Thomas Joseph – King Feature Syndicate	28 December 2021	META
Newsday.com	4 December 2021	META
Wall Street Journal	16 August 2021	META