self-referential
adjectiveUK /ˌself rɪˈferənʃəl/
US /ˌself rɪˈfɜrənʃəl/
Describing something that talks about or points to itself.
The sentence 'This sentence is short' is self-referential because it describes itself.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In logic, a statement that refers to itself, often creating a paradox.
The liar paradox is a self-referential statement that says 'This statement is false.'
3. In art or literature, a work that comments on its own creation or nature.
The movie is self-referential, with characters joking about being in a film.
4. In computing, a program or data structure that contains a reference to itself.
A self-referential data structure like a linked list points back to its own nodes.