how to cite the dictionary in an essay

Citing the Dictionary and Other Online Sources

A citation of any online dictionary or thesaurus should include the following information:

• headword of the entry cited (in quotes)
• title of the source (in italics)
• date the dictionary or thesaurus was published, posted, or revised (Use the copyright date noted at the bottom of this and every page of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)
• full URL of the site (up to and including the file name)
• date you accessed the dictionary (in parentheses)

Here are three ways you might cite the entry for hacker in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, if you accessed it on May 8, 2011.

"hacker." Merriam-Webster.com . 2011. https://www.merriam-webster.com (8 May 2011). MLA Style: "hacker." Merriam-Webster.com . Merriam-Webster, 2011. Web. 8 May 2011. APA Style: hacker. 2011. In Merriam-Webster.com . Retrieved May 8, 2011, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hacker

Citing Other Online Sources

There is no universally accepted standard for citing online sources, but it is generally adequate to indicate the document's Web address, or URL (uniform resource locator), somewhere in the citation, usually following the date on which the electronic document was published, posted, or last revised (if known).

Thus a typical citation of an online source would show the author's name, the title of the document, the title of the complete work (such as the name of a periodical) in italics, the date, and the full URL. A URL is composed of the protocol used (such as http for Web pages; other less common protocols include gopher , ftp , and telnet ), the server's identification, the directory path, and the file's name.

Here are a five sample citations of online sources:

Agmon, Eytan. "Beethoven's Op. 81a and the Psychology of Loss." Music Theory Online 2, 4 (1996). http://boethius.music.ucsb.edu/mto/ issues/mto.96.2.4/mto.2.4.agmon.html Davies, Al. 1997. Mitral Valvular Prolapse Syndrome. Medical Reporter 2, 11 (Feb.). http://www.dash.com/netro/nwx/tmr/tmr0297/valvular0297.html Thursby, Ray. "Hopping into hybrids." Salon.com . Aug. 2000. http://www.salon.com/business/feature/2000/08/15/hybrid/index.html

In many cases it is necessary or desirable to include the date of access as well. Note that the date of access will often be the only date shown, since many online documents do not include dates.

Walker, John. "Resources for Learning French." http://www.fourmilab.ch/francais/1french.html (12 Aug. 2007).

Periodicals published on paper that happen to be accessed online may be cited just like normal periodicals, with no acknowledgment of their online status, if it is clear that the text has not been altered for the online version.

References to mailing lists or newsgroup postings should begin with the author's name, include the subject line (or a made-up descriptive subject line), and provide the name and electronic address of the mailing-list server or newsgroup and the date posted. A personal e-mail message can be called "Personal communication" with no mention of its electronic medium.

Marchand, Jim. "L'humour de Berceo." (1 Oct. 1997). Medieval Texts Discussion List. [email protected] Massey, Neil. "Year 2000 and Sendmail 8.86." (1 Oct. 1997). comp.mail.sendmail

Many mailing-list discussions are archived after messages are posted. Archives are usually maintained on the mailing list's server and may also be available through a Web page. An archived message is cited in its original form unless the message was accessed through a Web server rather than the list server or newsgroup.

McCarty, Willard. "The Fate of Universities." 13 June 1997. Humanist Discussion Group. http://www.iath.virginia.edu/lists_archive/ Humanist/v11/0097.html

Note: Since many online sources are highly subject to change or deletion, any online text likely to be cited — including personal e-mail messages — should always be either downloaded onto a disk or printed out and stored on paper (with a notation of the date accessed) as a permanent record.

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When first starting to write academic papers, students often find themselves surrounded by a sea of words, some familiar and others utterly perplexing. In such moments, the only thing that can help survive through the process of reading and compiling scientific data is a dictionary. Yet, when you use a dictionary to write your work, you then inevitably need to cite it both in text and on your reference list, since it becomes integral to understanding your argument or research. Whether you’re dissecting a complex term in a paper or anchoring your thesis on a specific definition, knowing how to properly cite a dictionary is an essential skill for any student.

When Would You Need to Cite a Dictionary?

In academic papers, a well-defined term is what guides the readers throughout your whole work. Let’s assume you’re crafting a paper on the intricacies of existentialism. You use the word “absurd” a lot since it is necessary for your argument. That’s your cue to a) give a proper explanation of the term , and b) cite the dictionary you used to define the term in the first place .

Now, imagine you’re examining a scientific concept, perhaps in the field of quantum mechanics. If you’re using a specific definition to explain the term “superposition” to your readers, then it’s time to include the dictionary you used in the list of reference entries. And let’s not forget about those moments when you’re painting a picture with words, perhaps in a literature analysis. If you’re digging into the symbolism of “light” in Virginia Woolf’s work, a precise definition can be your paintbrush.

In short, whenever a definition is the lynchpin of your argument or the key to understanding your discussion, it’s time to use and then cite the dictionary. This allows your readers to trace the source of your definition and lends credibility to your work.

How to Cite a Dictionary in APA Style

Citing a dictionary in APA style is a straightforward process, but you must get all the details right. Here’s the general format:

Author(s). (Publication Year). Title of entry. In Title of dictionary (Edition). Publisher.

For example, if you’re citing an entry from Collins English Dictionary, your citation might look like this:

You may also need to add a specific page where you found the definition. The page number is added AFTER the specified edition of the dictionary.

For the in-text citations , you just need to include an author and publication year in parentheses: (Collins, 2019) . When mentioned in the narrative you can simply say “Collins (2019)”.

How to Cite an Online Dictionary

Citing an online dictionary in APA style requires a few additional details, particularly the URL. Here’s the format:

Author(s). (Publication Year). Title of entry. In Title of dictionary . Retrieved Month, Date, Year, from URL

Note that if the dictionary is continuously updated and doesn’t have a specific publication date, you can use “n.d.” (no date) in place of the year.

How to Cite a Dictionary in MLA

The MLA format for citing a dictionary is slightly different from APA. Here’s the overall structure.

What to Do If You Are Citing a Single Entry

If you’re only referencing a single entry from a dictionary, the citation should focus on that specific word or term

In APA style, this would mean including the title of the entry in the citation , as shown in the examples above. In MLA style, you would start the citation with the title of the entry, followed by the dictionary’s details.

Knowing how to create a dictionary citation is a must-have skill for any student. No matter if you’re using a print or online dictionary, following the correct citation format—be it APA, Vancouver, or MLA— maintains your work’s integrity and credibility. Providing clear references to the definitions that support your arguments, helps you strengthen your writing as well as demonstrate respect for intellectual property. So, the next time you reach for that dictionary, remember that citing it correctly is just as important as understanding the words within.

How do you cite a dictionary entry in APA format?

To cite a dictionary entry in APA format, you’ll need the following information: author(s) (if available), publication year, title of the entry, title of the dictionary, edition (if available), and publisher. The general format is:

Author(s). (Publication Year). Title of entry. In Title of Dictionary (Edition). Publisher.

For example:

Merriam-Webster. (2020). Empirical. In Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.). Merriam-Webster.

What is the MLA citation format for a dictionary?

In MLA format, you’ll cite a dictionary entry like this: “Title of Entry.” Title of Dictionary , edition (if not the first), Publisher, Year.

For instance:

“Empirical.” Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed., Merriam-Webster, 2020.

Can you give an example of citing a dictionary in Chicago style?

In Chicago style, a dictionary citation in a bibliography might look like this:

Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary . 11th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2020.

And in a footnote:

1. Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2020), s.v. “empirical.”

Is it necessary to include page numbers when citing a dictionary?

Typically, page numbers are not included when citing a dictionary entry. This is because dictionary entries are often accessed online or in a format where page numbers are not consistent across different editions or versions. Instead, focus on providing the title of the entry and other relevant details as outlined in the citation guidelines for the specific format you’re using.

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Home › Study Tips › How To Cite The Oxford English Dictionary: Using MLA And APA

How To Cite The Oxford English Dictionary: Using MLA And APA

• Published June 2, 2022

Writing academic essays and research papers can be more complex than it already is when you don’t know how to cite the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).

It becomes even more confusing depending on what type of OED you’re using, online or print. Why? Because you cite them in different ways. You can now rest easy since you’ve come to the right place. Read more if you want to learn how to cite the Oxford English Dictionary. 

And, if you’re looking to get ahead of your competition in education, then browse our summer programs in Oxford for high school students .

MLA or APA? 

The first step to citing any reference is to figure out what style you need to follow: MLA or APA? What’s the difference, you ask?

Good question!

The most significant is that MLA (Modern Language Association) is used for arts and humanities while APA (American Psychology Association) is for social science. Once you determine which style you need to use, you’re on your way to writing an academic essay ! 

How To Cite The Oxford English Dictionary Using MLA 9th Edition

Library database, known author.

If you’re accessing the Oxford English Dictionary via a library database and you know who the author is, this is how you cite it. 

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Entry.” Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number if more than one volume, Publisher Name, Date of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page. Name of Database . https://doi.org/DOI if there is one.

If the word you’re referencing is only found on one page, list it as such—no need to write it as a first page-last page. But if there’s no page number, you can choose to omit it. What if you don’t know who the editors are or what volume it is? You can also leave them out of your citation.  

In-Text Citation: 

(Author’s Last Name, page number)

If the page number is unavailable:

(Author’s Last Name)

Unknown Author

What if you don’t know who the author is? Here’s how to cite your entry.

“Title of Entry.” Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Date of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page. Name of Database . https://doi.org/DOI if there is one.

What if you don’t have specific information such as pages volume numbers and editors? You don’t have to include them. 

Since you don’t know the author, you need to input the first one to three words from the entry title. Please remember to enclose the title within quotation marks. Also, don’t forget to capitalise the first letter of each word. Just like this:

(“Diversity”)

Perhaps the easiest way to access the Oxford English Dictionary is through their various websites. If you know the author, here’s how to cite it:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Entry.” Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , Publication or Update Date, URL. Accessed Day Month Year site was visited.

Did you notice that “Accessed Day Month Year site was visited” is unique to website citations? If you’re wondering, it simply refers to the day you visited the website. Also, don’t forget to abbreviate the month for the publication/update date and the accessed date; it’s necessary to abbreviate the month. 

If you don’t know who the author is, you can cite your entry this way:

“Title of Entry.” Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , Publisher if known, Copyright Date or Date Updated, URL. Accessed Day Month Year site was visited.

With the lack of author information, all you have to do is place the first one to three words of the entry title within quotation marks. Remember to capitalise the first letter of each term. Here’s how:

(“Victorian”)

Of course, we can’t forget physical Oxford English Dictionaries! If you intend to use one, here’s how you can cite the material:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Entry.” Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page.

In case the author’s name is not provided, just the editors’, cite it this way: 

 “Title of Entry.” Title of Encyclopedia or Dictionary , edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Edition if given and not first edition, vol. Volume Number, Publisher Name, Year of Publication, pp. First Page-Last Page.

Since there’s no author information available, you can use the first one to three words of the entry title and enclose it with quotation marks. Capitalise the first letter of each word. Then place the page number after. Take a look at this:

(“Middle Age” 545)

How To Cite Two Authors

How should you cite the material if there are two authors? By listing them how they appear on the page. Not alphabetically! 

First Author’s Last Name, First Author’s First Name, and First Name Last Name of Second Author

Here’s what it will look like:

Will, Thomas, and Melissa Jones

How To Cite More Than Two Authors

If there are more than two authors, what you need to do is to focus on the first author in the list. 

Last Name, First Name, et al. 

In actual practice, it will look like this:

Will, Thomas, et al.

How To Cite The Oxford English Dictionary Using APA 7th Edition

The APA style is more straightforward than the MLA. When citing authors, remember it’s only the last name that’s spelt out. The first name is abbreviated. If the author’s name is Melissa Jones, the citation will look like this:

Jones, M. 

If the author’s middle name is given, for instance, Melissa Smith Jones, here’s how to cite it. 

Jones, M.S. 

When referencing the Oxford English Dictionary you find online, determine if it’s an archived version or not. If not, it means that the dictionary is continuously being updated. 

Online Archived Version: 

Author A. A. (Date). Title of entry. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Name of dictionary/encyclopedia . URL.

Online Version With Continuous Updates:

Author A. A. (n.d.). Title of entry. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Name of dictionary/encyclopedia (edition, if not the first). Publisher. URL.

No Authors, But There Are Editors: 

Editor, A., & Editor, B. (Eds.). (Date). Dictionary/Encyclopedia entry. In Name of dictionary/encyclopedia (edition, if not the first). Publisher.

No Authors And No Editors: Use Company As Corporate Author

Corporate Author. (Date). Dictionary/Encyclopedia entry. In Name of dictionary/encyclopedia (edition, if not the first). Publisher.

In-Text Citation

(Author’s last name, date)

Wrapping Up 

There you have it! By now you know how to cite the Oxford English Dictionary using both the MLA and APA styles. You’ll be more confident writing your papers from now on.

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APA Style, 7th edition - Citing Sources

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Merriam-Webster. (n.d.) Introvert. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved October 24, 2019, from  https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/introvert

Parenthetical citation: (Merriam-Webster, n.d.)

Narrative citation: Merriam-Webster (n.d.)

More information about citing dictionary entries can be found  here   at the APA Style website.

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How to Cite a Dictionary in APA 7

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Citing a dictionary is an academic exercise that students must master by considering the APA 7th edition format. Like a citation of any other source of information, an APA dictionary citation should capture several features. Basically, these elements include the word whose meaning is the title of a publisher or organization or individual names, the year of the dictionary’s publication, the word being sought, the source’s name, and the link to the publisher or URL/DOI number. Moroever, the decision on whether to indicate the publisher or the URL depends on the version the writer uses between the print and online versions. In turn, this guide includes basic principles of organizing in-text citations and footnotes for such sources.

General Features of Citing a Dictionary in APA 7

Academic writing rules require students to adhere to specific standards when writing scholarly texts, such as essays, theses, and dissertations. Ideally, students rely on different sources to strengthen their claims, opinions, or arguments. Occasionally, writers may have to cite a dictionary in APA 7 to expound on a concept or an idea. In such cases, authors need to cite a dictionary in APA 7 that they have used. By definition, a dictionary is a reservoir of knowledge in online or printed form that primarily focuses on words and their meanings or connotations. Like any other citation, an APA citation indicates that students have relied on another, authoritative source, to develop clarity in their writing. As such, an APA dictionary citation gives text credibility as an academic text.

Printed and Online Dictionary

Generally, writers rely on two types of dictionaries to define words, such as printed and online sources. Basically, the former is limited in scope (has a maximum of 1,000 pages), while the latter’s range depends on the hardware resource in use. In this case, when using printed dictionaries, writers need only to type the word they seek meaning to and immediately gets an answer. However, when using online versions, they must look up the word in the dictionary alphabetically. As such, the online version offers speed and convenience.

Rules on How to Cite a Dictionary in APA 7

APA citation format rules differ from paper to paper. Basically, they all depend on what writers are citing and the paper format they are using. In principle, these rules are different in APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago/Turabian formats. When citing a dictionary in the APA format, students should pay attention to the features of the citation: the organization or individual, the year of publication, the word they are citing, the name of the dictionary, and the link of the publisher or URL/DOI number. Whether to indicate the publisher or the URL depends on the version that writers use: printed or online sources.

1. Citing an Organization or an Individual

APA reference entries always start with indicating titles of institutions or individuals. Basically, writers need to mention authors of the publication with words needed to be cited.

2. The Year of Publication

When citing sources to strengthen their claims and arguments, writers indicate the source’s publication year. In the APA dictionary citation, this feature comes second after the title of the institution or individual. Notably, the publication year is only applicable in the print dictionary and not the online dictionary. The reason is that the online dictionary undergoes regular updates, and it would be a challenge to indicate when exactly it was published.

3. Citing the Word

As indicated, the primary use of a dictionary is to give a writer meaning or definition to words. As such, the word that students look up in the dictionary is the central focus and the first feature in the APA dictionary citation. In a printed source, this word is placed alphabetically, and what writers need to do is to flip pages to the exact place of words. In contrast, when using an online source, writers need only to type the word to find its meaning.

4. Publisher

The third feature in citing a dictionary in APA 7 is the name of the dictionary. Like any other publication, dictionaries have names, including Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Collins English Dictionary, The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and The Chambers Dictionary. Basically, there are different versions of dictionaries, besides printed and online dictionaries. Unlike publishers of books and novels, publishers of dictionaries are not many. Since the online platform is the most used by students who seek information on diverse topics, these dictionaries have created an online presence. As such, a writer can find the meaning of a word by checking the printed or online version in whatever sources.

5. The Link of the Publisher or URL/DOI Number

Generally, writers can access documents in their print form or digital form. For the former, a key characteristic is the name of the publisher, which lacks in the latter. Basically, students can access most digital documents through the URL address or DOI number. When it comes to dictionaries, only printed ones have publishers, usually indicated in the first pages. In turn, online dictionaries are only accessed through the URL and have no named publishers. Notably, the name of the publisher includes their location (city and state or country).

Citing Printed vs. Online Dictionaries in APA 7

One of the significant differences between printed and online sources is that the former has an author and a publication date, while the latter lacks both. As indicated, there is usually no publication date for online dictionaries because of continuous updates. Where a date there is no specific date, as is the case with online versions, writers should use the initials “n.d.” in place of the publication date.

APA In-Text Citation for a Dictionary

Besides reference citations, a writer should indicate in-text citations in their essay or research papers. Basically, the former appears at the end of the document as a separate page. In turn, the latter appears in the body paragraphs. Consequently, while reference entries indicate all the features described above (authors, word, publication date, name of the dictionary, and the URL link or DOI number), in-text citations show only the author (organization, institution, or individual) and the publication year or n.d. Notably, writers should not enclose authors within double quotation marks.

Citation Scheme for a Dictionary in APA 7

Like any other form of citation, a dictionary citation has a scheme or format. Based on the features discussed in the preceding section, this scheme of citing a dictionary in APA 7 appears of as follows for printed and online sources:

1. APA Citation Scheme for a Printed Dictionary/Encyclopedia/etc.:

The Title of Organization/Institution or The Names of Individual Authors. Year of publication. Word. In Name of the dictionary (edition). Place: Publisher.

An example of this citation for an organization or institution is:

Clarendon Press. (1991). Contradiction. In The Oxford Compact English Dictionary . Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

Or an example of this citation for a publication with atuhors is:

Thompson, D. F., & ‎Soanes, C. (1996). Contradiction. In The Oxford Modern English Dictionary . Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

Check out how to cite a dictionary in APA 8 as an in-text citation and a footnote:

(Clarendon Press, 1991) or (Thompson and ‎Soanes, 1996)

2. APA Citation Scheme for an Online Dictionary/Encyclopedia/Teasurus/etc.:

The Title of Organization/Institution or The Names of Individual Authors. Year of publication. Word. In Name of the dictionary (edition). Retrieved from the URL link or DOI.

An example of this citation is:

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Superstition. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary . Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superstition

The in-text citation and footnote would read:

(Merriam-Webster, n.d.)

Summing on How to Cite a Dictionary in APA 7

Citing a dictionary in APA 7 is one of the exercises that writers of scholarly articles, including essays, theses, and dissertations, undertake. Basically, various types of sources in the market have both printed and online source versions, and students must cite each version appropriately. As a result, writers who cite a dictionary in APA to indicate the meaning or definition of a word should master the following tips:

• Identify titles of publishers – organizations, individuals, or other institutions.
• Find the year when it is published or use n.d.
• Cite the word.
• Identify the name of the dictionary.
• Mention the publisher for printed and online dictionaries in italics.
• Note the URL link or DOI number.

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MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

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Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Guidelines for referring to the works of others in your text using MLA style are covered throughout the  MLA Handbook  and in chapter 7 of the  MLA Style Manual . Both books provide extensive examples, so it's a good idea to consult them if you want to become even more familiar with MLA guidelines or if you have a particular reference question.

Basic in-text citation rules

In MLA Style, referring to the works of others in your text is done using parenthetical citations . This method involves providing relevant source information in parentheses whenever a sentence uses a quotation or paraphrase. Usually, the simplest way to do this is to put all of the source information in parentheses at the end of the sentence (i.e., just before the period). However, as the examples below will illustrate, there are situations where it makes sense to put the parenthetical elsewhere in the sentence, or even to leave information out.

General Guidelines

• The source information required in a parenthetical citation depends (1) upon the source medium (e.g. print, web, DVD) and (2) upon the source’s entry on the Works Cited page.
• Any source information that you provide in-text must correspond to the source information on the Works Cited page. More specifically, whatever signal word or phrase you provide to your readers in the text must be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of the corresponding entry on the Works Cited page.

In-text citations: Author-page style

MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page. The author's name may appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text of your sentence. For example:

Both citations in the examples above, (263) and (Wordsworth 263), tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth. If readers want more information about this source, they can turn to the Works Cited page, where, under the name of Wordsworth, they would find the following information:

Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads . Oxford UP, 1967.

In-text citations for print sources with known author

For print sources like books, magazines, scholarly journal articles, and newspapers, provide a signal word or phrase (usually the author’s last name) and a page number. If you provide the signal word/phrase in the sentence, you do not need to include it in the parenthetical citation.

These examples must correspond to an entry that begins with Burke, which will be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of an entry on the Works Cited page:

Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method . University of California Press, 1966.

In-text citations for print sources by a corporate author

When a source has a corporate author, it is acceptable to use the name of the corporation followed by the page number for the in-text citation. You should also use abbreviations (e.g., nat'l for national) where appropriate, so as to avoid interrupting the flow of reading with overly long parenthetical citations.

In-text citations for sources with non-standard labeling systems

If a source uses a labeling or numbering system other than page numbers, such as a script or poetry, precede the citation with said label. When citing a poem, for instance, the parenthetical would begin with the word “line”, and then the line number or range. For example, the examination of William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” would be cited as such:

The speaker makes an ardent call for the exploration of the connection between the violence of nature and the divinity of creation. “In what distant deeps or skies. / Burnt the fire of thine eyes," they ask in reference to the tiger as they attempt to reconcile their intimidation with their relationship to creationism (lines 5-6).

Longer labels, such as chapters (ch.) and scenes (sc.), should be abbreviated.

In-text citations for print sources with no known author

When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name, following these guidelines.

Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an article) or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire Web sites) and provide a page number if it is available.

Titles longer than a standard noun phrase should be shortened into a noun phrase by excluding articles. For example, To the Lighthouse would be shortened to Lighthouse .

If the title cannot be easily shortened into a noun phrase, the title should be cut after the first clause, phrase, or punctuation:

In this example, since the reader does not know the author of the article, an abbreviated title appears in the parenthetical citation, and the full title of the article appears first at the left-hand margin of its respective entry on the Works Cited page. Thus, the writer includes the title in quotation marks as the signal phrase in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader directly to the source on the Works Cited page. The Works Cited entry appears as follows:

"The Impact of Global Warming in North America." Global Warming: Early Signs . 1999. www.climatehotmap.org/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2009.

If the title of the work begins with a quotation mark, such as a title that refers to another work, that quote or quoted title can be used as the shortened title. The single quotation marks must be included in the parenthetical, rather than the double quotation.

Parenthetical citations and Works Cited pages, used in conjunction, allow readers to know which sources you consulted in writing your essay, so that they can either verify your interpretation of the sources or use them in their own scholarly work.

Author-page citation for classic and literary works with multiple editions

Page numbers are always required, but additional citation information can help literary scholars, who may have a different edition of a classic work, like Marx and Engels's  The Communist Manifesto . In such cases, give the page number of your edition (making sure the edition is listed in your Works Cited page, of course) followed by a semicolon, and then the appropriate abbreviations for volume (vol.), book (bk.), part (pt.), chapter (ch.), section (sec.), or paragraph (par.). For example:

Author-page citation for works in an anthology, periodical, or collection

When you cite a work that appears inside a larger source (for instance, an article in a periodical or an essay in a collection), cite the author of the  internal source (i.e., the article or essay). For example, to cite Albert Einstein's article "A Brief Outline of the Theory of Relativity," which was published in  Nature  in 1921, you might write something like this:

See also our page on documenting periodicals in the Works Cited .

Citing authors with same last names

Sometimes more information is necessary to identify the source from which a quotation is taken. For instance, if two or more authors have the same last name, provide both authors' first initials (or even the authors' full name if different authors share initials) in your citation. For example:

Citing a work by multiple authors

For a source with two authors, list the authors’ last names in the text or in the parenthetical citation:

Corresponding Works Cited entry:

Best, David, and Sharon Marcus. “Surface Reading: An Introduction.” Representations , vol. 108, no. 1, Fall 2009, pp. 1-21. JSTOR , doi:10.1525/rep.2009.108.1.1

For a source with three or more authors, list only the first author’s last name, and replace the additional names with et al.

Franck, Caroline, et al. “Agricultural Subsidies and the American Obesity Epidemic.” American Journal of Preventative Medicine , vol. 45, no. 3, Sept. 2013, pp. 327-333.

Citing multiple works by the same author

If you cite more than one work by an author, include a shortened title for the particular work from which you are quoting to distinguish it from the others. Put short titles of books in italics and short titles of articles in quotation marks.

Citing two articles by the same author :

Citing two books by the same author :

Additionally, if the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, format your citation with the author's name followed by a comma, followed by a shortened title of the work, and, when appropriate, the page number(s):

Citing multivolume works

If you cite from different volumes of a multivolume work, always include the volume number followed by a colon. Put a space after the colon, then provide the page number(s). (If you only cite from one volume, provide only the page number in parentheses.)

Citing the Bible

In your first parenthetical citation, you want to make clear which Bible you're using (and underline or italicize the title), as each version varies in its translation, followed by book (do not italicize or underline), chapter, and verse. For example:

If future references employ the same edition of the Bible you’re using, list only the book, chapter, and verse in the parenthetical citation:

John of Patmos echoes this passage when describing his vision (Rev. 4.6-8).

Citing indirect sources

Sometimes you may have to use an indirect source. An indirect source is a source cited within another source. For such indirect quotations, use "qtd. in" to indicate the source you actually consulted. For example:

Note that, in most cases, a responsible researcher will attempt to find the original source, rather than citing an indirect source.

Citing transcripts, plays, or screenplays

Sources that take the form of a dialogue involving two or more participants have special guidelines for their quotation and citation. Each line of dialogue should begin with the speaker's name written in all capitals and indented half an inch. A period follows the name (e.g., JAMES.) . After the period, write the dialogue. Each successive line after the first should receive an additional indentation. When another person begins speaking, start a new line with that person's name indented only half an inch. Repeat this pattern each time the speaker changes. You can include stage directions in the quote if they appear in the original source.

Conclude with a parenthetical that explains where to find the excerpt in the source. Usually, the author and title of the source can be given in a signal phrase before quoting the excerpt, so the concluding parenthetical will often just contain location information like page numbers or act/scene indicators.

Here is an example from O'Neill's  The Iceman Cometh.

WILLIE. (Pleadingly) Give me a drink, Rocky. Harry said it was all right. God, I need a drink.

ROCKY. Den grab it. It's right under your nose.

WILLIE. (Avidly) Thanks. (He takes the bottle with both twitching hands and tilts it to his lips and gulps down the whiskey in big swallows.) (1.1)

Citing non-print or sources from the Internet

With more and more scholarly work published on the Internet, you may have to cite sources you found in digital environments. While many sources on the Internet should not be used for scholarly work (reference the OWL's  Evaluating Sources of Information  resource), some Web sources are perfectly acceptable for research. When creating in-text citations for electronic, film, or Internet sources, remember that your citation must reference the source on your Works Cited page.

Sometimes writers are confused with how to craft parenthetical citations for electronic sources because of the absence of page numbers. However, these sorts of entries often do not require a page number in the parenthetical citation. For electronic and Internet sources, follow the following guidelines:

• Include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name).
• Do not provide paragraph numbers or page numbers based on your Web browser’s print preview function.
• Unless you must list the Web site name in the signal phrase in order to get the reader to the appropriate entry, do not include URLs in-text. Only provide partial URLs such as when the name of the site includes, for example, a domain name, like  CNN.com  or  Forbes.com,  as opposed to writing out http://www.cnn.com or http://www.forbes.com.

Miscellaneous non-print sources

Two types of non-print sources you may encounter are films and lectures/presentations:

In the two examples above “Herzog” (a film’s director) and “Yates” (a presentor) lead the reader to the first item in each citation’s respective entry on the Works Cited page:

Herzog, Werner, dir. Fitzcarraldo . Perf. Klaus Kinski. Filmverlag der Autoren, 1982.

Yates, Jane. "Invention in Rhetoric and Composition." Gaps Addressed: Future Work in Rhetoric and Composition, CCCC, Palmer House Hilton, 2002. Address.

Electronic sources

Electronic sources may include web pages and online news or magazine articles:

In the first example (an online magazine article), the writer has chosen not to include the author name in-text; however, two entries from the same author appear in the Works Cited. Thus, the writer includes both the author’s last name and the article title in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader to the appropriate entry on the Works Cited page (see below).

In the second example (a web page), a parenthetical citation is not necessary because the page does not list an author, and the title of the article, “MLA Formatting and Style Guide,” is used as a signal phrase within the sentence. If the title of the article was not named in the sentence, an abbreviated version would appear in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence. Both corresponding Works Cited entries are as follows:

Taylor, Rumsey. "Fitzcarraldo." Slant , 13 Jun. 2003, www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/fitzcarraldo/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2009. 

"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL , 2 Aug. 2016, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. Accessed 2 April 2018.

Multiple citations

To cite multiple sources in the same parenthetical reference, separate the citations by a semi-colon:

Time-based media sources

When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference. For example: (00:02:15-00:02:35).

When a citation is not needed

Common sense and ethics should determine your need for documenting sources. You do not need to give sources for familiar proverbs, well-known quotations, or common knowledge (For example, it is expected that U.S. citizens know that George Washington was the first President.). Remember that citing sources is a rhetorical task, and, as such, can vary based on your audience. If you’re writing for an expert audience of a scholarly journal, for example, you may need to deal with expectations of what constitutes “common knowledge” that differ from common norms.

Other Sources

The MLA Handbook describes how to cite many different kinds of authors and content creators. However, you may occasionally encounter a source or author category that the handbook does not describe, making the best way to proceed can be unclear.

In these cases, it's typically acceptable to apply the general principles of MLA citation to the new kind of source in a way that's consistent and sensible. A good way to do this is to simply use the standard MLA directions for a type of source that resembles the source you want to cite.

You may also want to investigate whether a third-party organization has provided directions for how to cite this kind of source. For example, Norquest College provides guidelines for citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers⁠ —an author category that does not appear in the MLA Handbook . In cases like this, however, it's a good idea to ask your instructor or supervisor whether using third-party citation guidelines might present problems.

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How to Cite a Dictionary

Last Updated: April 28, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD . Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 143,842 times.

When a specific definition has been used in an essay, you will need to cite the dictionary in your “Works Cited” or “References” page. Each style guide has its own citation standards, and these standards vary depending on whether the dictionary is a print source or an online source.

Sample Citations

Citing a Print Dictionary in MLA Format

• “Citation.”

• "Citation." Def. 1e.

• "Citation." Def. 1e. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary .

• "Citation." Def. 1e. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary . 3rd ed., [2] X Research source

• "Citation." Def. 1e. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary . 3rd ed., 2003.

Citing an Online Dictionary in MLA Format

• "Citation."

• "Citation." Random House Dictionary .
• Note: If an online dictionary source is an original dictionary, rather than a third-party one, you can skip ahead to step 2.4, indicating publication source.

• "Citation." Random House Dictionary . New York: Random House, Inc., 2012.

• "Citation." Random House Dictionary . New York: Random House, Inc., 2012. Dictionary.com .

• "Citation." Random House Dictionary . New York: Random House, Inc., 2012. Dictionary.com . Web.

• "Citation." Random House Dictionary . New York: Random House, Inc., 2012. Dictionary.com . Web. 5 December 2012.

Citing a Print Dictionary in APA Format

• Citation. (2003).

• Citation. (2003). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

• Citation. (2003). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (p. 57, 11th ed., Vol. 1).

• Citation. (2003). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (p. 57, 11th ed., Vol. 1). Springfield, Massachusetts: Encyclopedia Britannica.

Citing an Online Dictionary in APA Format

• Citation. (2012). Random House Dictionary . New York: Random House, Inc.

• Citation. (2012). Random House Dictionary . New York: Random House, Inc. Dictionary.com .

• Citation. (2012). Random House Dictionary . New York: Random House, Inc. Dictionary.com . Retrieved 5 December 2012,

• Citation. (2012). Random House Dictionary . New York: Random House, Inc. Dictionary.com . Retrieved 5 December 2012, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/citation?s=t

Citing a Print Dictionary in Chicago Style

• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary ,

• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed.,

• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed., s.v. "citation."

Citing an Online Dictionary in Chicago Style

• Dictionary.com,

• Dictionary.com , s.v., "citation,"

• Dictionary.com , s.v., "citation," accessed December 1, 2012,

• Dictionary.com , s.v., "citation," accessed December 1, 2012, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/citation?s=t .

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You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.library.cornell.edu/resrch/citmanage/mla
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/06/
• ↑ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/18/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/
• ↑ http://www.merriam-webster.com/help/citing-the-dictionary
• ↑ http://www.easybib.com/reference/guide/apa/dictionary
• ↑ https://www.citefast.com/styleguide.php?style=APA&sec=Encyclopedia
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

About this article

To cite a print dictionary in MLA format, start by writing the word you defined in quotes with a period at the end. Then, if the word has more than one definition, list the definition number and letter, like "Def. 1e." Next, write the name of the dictionary you used in italics with a period at the end. Finally, list the dictionary's edition number, like "3rd ed.," followed by a comma and the year of publication. To learn how to cite an online dictionary and cite a dictionary using APA format, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Cite a Dictionary Meaning in MLA

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 82,932 times.

Citing a dictionary definition is a little different than referencing an authored book, but it’s easy to get the hang of. An MLA citation shows the reader exactly where to find the source you accessed, so you’ll need to provide specific information about the entry. Include an in-text citation in parentheses right after the sentence that referenced the term. On your works cited page, list the term, the dictionary's title, its edition, its date of publication, and the page number. For an online dictionary, include the URL and the date you accessed the site.

Making a Parenthetical Citation

• A basic parenthetical citation would be: (“Onomatopoeia”). Instead of placing the period after sentence, add it after the citation, like this: Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates or suggests the sound it describes (“Onomatopoeia”).

• For example, your in-text citation would look like this: (“Turn,” def. V. 2a). Note the “V.” stands for verb; use “Adj.” for adjectives and “N.” for nouns.
• Write the part of speech and definition number as it appears in the dictionary. A dictionary might organize entries with numbers and letters (such as 1a) or with numbers alone (such as 1.2).
• If the word has multiple entries but only a single part of speech, just include the entry number: (“Wonderful,” def. 2).

• An example would be: (“Emoticon,” [Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary]).
• Suppose your paper references the definition of “Emoticon” in both Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary . If your in-text citations were just (“Emoticon”) or (“Emoticon,” N.), the reader wouldn’t know which dictionary you were referencing.

Citing a Print Dictionary

• If you specified the part of speech and definition number, include them in your works cited entry: “Content,” def. N. 1c. [5] X Research source
• Since there’s no known author, use the first letter of the term when you alphabetize your works cited page. For instance, you’d list “Content” after an entry authored by “Butler, J.” and before one authored by “Darwin, C.”

• At this point, your entry would look like this: “Content,” def. N. 1c. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary ,

• Now your entry would read: “Content,” def. N. 1c. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed.,

• Add the date like this: “Content,” def. N. 1c. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed., 2003,

• Your finished entry would read: “Content,” def. N. 1c. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed., 2003, p. 269.
• If your definition happens to appear on 2 pages, write “pp. 269-270.”

Citing an Online Dictionary

• The first part works cited entry for an online dictionary looks the same as a citation for printed source: “Content,” def. N. 1.1. Oxford English Dictionary ,

• Your entry at this point would read: “Content,” def. N. 1.1. Oxford English Dictionary , 2018,

• Add the URL like this: “Content,” def. N. 1.1. Oxford English Dictionary , 2018, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/content.

• Your completed entry would read: “Content,” def. N. 1.1. Oxford English Dictionary , 2018, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/content. Accessed 23 September 2018.

Expert Q&A

• Learn more about MLA style at https://style.mla.org . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://style.mla.org/term-with-numbered-definitions/
• ↑ https://style.mla.org/distinguishing-dictionary-entries/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_books.html
• ↑ https://style.mla.org/when-citing-a-print-dictionary-in-mla-style-do-i-include-a-page-number/
• ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/help/citing-the-dictionary
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html?_ga=2.19623804.558179429.1522454400-1709346682.1522454400

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Chicago Style / How To Cite a Dictionary in Chicago/Turabian

How To Cite a Dictionary in Chicago/Turabian

If you need to define an important word in your paper, you should provide a citation for the dictionary entry for that term. This guide will show you how to cite an online dictionary entry in notes-bibliography style using the 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style .

Citing an online dictionary entry

Note: Popular dictionaries should be referenced in the notes only, but lesser-known dictionaries can be included in the bibliography if needed. See sections 14.232 and 14.233 of the Chicago Manual of Style for additional information.

1. Dictionary Title, s.v. “Definition word ( part of speech ),” accessed Month Date, Year, URL.

1. Oxford Dictionaries , s.v. “food baby ( n. ),” accessed October 22, 2013, https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/food-baby.

Note: To cite a print dictionary entry in the notes, the entry would follow the same format, but the accessed date and URL would be omitted ( Oxford Dictionaries , s.v. “food baby ( n. ).”)

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