2.3.14 Macro Type

A Lisp macro is a user-defined construct that extends the Lisp language. It is represented as an object much like a function, but with different argument-passing semantics. A Lisp macro has the form of a list whose first element is the symbol macro and whose CDR is a Lisp function object, including the lambda symbol.

Lisp macro objects are usually defined with the built-in defmacro function, but any list that begins with macro is a macro as far as Emacs is concerned. See section 13. Macros, for an explanation of how to write a macro.

Warning: Lisp macros and keyboard macros (see section 21.15 Keyboard Macros) are entirely different things. When we use the word "macro" without qualification, we mean a Lisp macro, not a keyboard macro.