Citing a dictionary
Published January 28, 2021. Updated October 25, 2021.
To create a reference or citation for a dictionary, you will need to know the dictionary name, definition word, accessed date, and URL.
The examples below will show you how to cite a dictionary in MLA, APA, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing.
Easily cite a dictionary in the style of your choice using the Chegg Writing citation generator.
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Citing a dictionary in MLA style
In-text citation example:
(Sonnet)
Works cited entry example:
“Sonnet.” Merriam-Webster, 2020, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonnet.
For more information on this citation style, see citing a dictionary in MLA style.
Citing a dictionary in APA style
In-text citation example:
(Merriam-Webster, n.d.)
Reference list entry example:
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Sonnet. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved December 22, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonnet
For more information on this citation style, see citing a dictionary in APA style.
Citing a dictionary in Chicago style, notes-bibliography
Dictionaries that are popular are added in notes and not in the bibliography.
Footnotes example:
Note
Merriam-Webster, s.v. “sonnet,” accessed December 22, 2020, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonnet
Bibliography entry example:
Highfill, Philip H. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800. Vol. 14. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 1973.
For more information on this citation style, see citing a dictionary in Chicago style.
Citing a dictionary in Chicago style, author-date
In-text citation example:
(Highfill 1973)
Reference list entry example:
Highfill, Philip H. 1973. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800. Vol. 14. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP.
For more information on this citation style, see citing a dictionary in Chicago style.
How to cite a dictionary in Harvard referencing style
In-text citation example:
(‘Sonnet’, 2000)
Reference list entry example:
‘Sonnet’ (2020) Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonnet (Accessed: 22 December 2020).
For more information on this citation style, see how to cite a dictionary in Harvard referencing style.
Writing a paper? Don’t forget to include a bibliography.
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To cite the online Merriam-Webster dictionary in MLA style, the core elements required are the word from the dictionary entry, name of the dictionary, date, and URL. The below table shows how the in-text citation and the works cited entry are formatted for the Merriam-Webster dictionary in MLA style.
In-text citation template & example:
(“Entry Title”)
(“Transliterate”)
Works cited entry template & entry:
“Word, Part of Speech.” Merriam-Webster, Year, URL.
“Transliterate, V.” Merriam-Webster, 2020, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transliteration.
Note that to cite an entry from the print version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the in-text citation format would be the same, but the works cited entry would be formatted as follows:
“Transliterate, V.” Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., Merriam-Webster, 2003, p. 984.
To cite a thesaurus in MLA style, the core elements required are the word from the thesaurus entry, date, and URL. The below table shows how the in-text citation and the works-cited entry are formatted for the Merriam-Webster thesaurus in MLA style.
In-text citation template & example:
(Word)
(Invigorate)
Work-cited entry template & example:
“Word, Part of Speech.” Name of the Thesaurus, Publication Date, URL.
“Invigorate, V.” Merriam-Webster, 2020, www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invigorate.
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