SyntaxError: Cannot use 'import.meta' outside a module

Filing this as a close duplicate of #9299 because that issue is locked, and with the release of Node v12, the createRequireFromPath boilerplate has become more widespread, and it involves import.meta.url:

import {createRequireFromPath as createRequire} from 'module';
import {fileURLToPath as fromURL} from 'url';
const require = createRequire(fromURL(import.meta.url));

As a Babel end-user, I don’t know how to work around the SyntaxError: Cannot use 'import.meta' outside a module, and leaving that issue open might allow someone more knowledgeable to offer a solution.

_{I personally find it mildly infuriating when conversations are locked without any spam or abuse problems, because nether I nor others can add anything that might help each other. Sometimes the “final word” from the core team is less than intelligible to those new to the topic.}

[nicolo-ribaudo]

That error isn’t thrown by Babel. Babel throws 'import' and 'export' may appear only with 'sourceType: "module"'

[naturetrue]

maybe the error can be that i havent put the export as default export?