Could neural networks be considered metaheuristics? A metaheuristic is defined as 


  a metaheuristic is a higher-level procedure or heuristic designed to find, generate, or select a heuristic (partial search algorithm) that may provide a sufficiently good solution to an optimization problem 


So my question is if a neural net could be consider in that definition
The notion of a "metaheuristic" is not something with a precise formal definition.  Personally, a neural network isn't something I'd consider a metaheuristic; it doesn't seem quite like what we have in mind when we talk about metaheuristics.  But you can always use language however you like, as long as it is clear to others and doesn't cause confusion.