When a specific definition is used in a paper, you will need to list the dictionary references used on the “Citation List” or “References” page. Each style guide has its own citation standard, and these standards vary depending on whether the dictionary used is a printed or online version.
Step
Method 1 of 6: Citing the Printed Version of the Dictionary in MLA Format
Step 1. Write down the word described
Each word must be capitalized in quotation marks. End with a dot. For example, this is what it looks like if you quote the word “citation”:
"Citation"
Step 2. Add a definition number
If a word has more than one definition in the dictionary, mark the definition you used. Numbers indicate the entry number because some words have more than one entry, and letters indicate the definition below the entry number used. End the line with a period. Follow the format below to continue the “citation” example:
"Citation". Def. 1e
Step 3. Identify the dictionary used to describe the word
Type the title of the dictionary in italics and continue with a period.
'Citation'. Def. 1e. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
Step 4. State the edition of the dictionary
After including the title of the dictionary in the citation, add the abbreviation of the edition version. Begin sentences with " 1st ", " 2nd ", or whatever dictionary edition number you use. Abbreviate "edition" by writing "ed." and continue with a comma. Your quote should now look like this:
"Citation". Def. 1e. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 3rd ed.,
Step 5. Write the year of publication
You don't need to write down the publication date. You simply affix the year of publication of the version of the relevant dictionary used, and end with a period.
"Citation" Def. 1e. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. 3rd ed., 2003
Method 2 of 6: Citing the Dictionary Online in MLA Format
Step 1. Identify the quoted word
Related words must be capitalized and enclosed in quotation marks. End with a dot. Below is an example format, continuing the “citation” example above:
"Citation"
Step 2. Write down the name of the dictionary
Third-party dictionaries usually take definitions from printed dictionaries. Print dictionaries from which online dictionaries are sourced are usually listed at the bottom of the dictionary entry. Italicize the name of this source's print dictionary, and put a period after it.
- "Citation". Random House Dictionary.
- Note: If the online dictionaries are sourced from official dictionaries, instead of third-party dictionaries, please skip to steps 2-4 which discuss citations from published sources.
Step 3. Write down the location, publisher, and year of publication
For publishers domiciled in a large city, such as New York or London, only the name of the city needs to be provided. If the publisher is domiciled in a lesser known city, also include the province or state. Continue with a colon, and the name of the original publisher. After that, put a comma and the year of publication of the dictionary.
"Citation". Random House Dictionary. New York: Random House Inc., 2012
Step 4. List the sources of online publications
An online publication source is an online dictionary from which you cite definitions. You only need to mention the name of the associated online dictionary, and not the URL.
"Citation". Random House Dictionary. New York: Random House Inc. 2012. Dictionary.com
Step 5. State that the definition comes from the web
The MLA format requires that you indicate the type of medium that a particular source is from.
"Citation". Random House Dictionary. New York: Random House Inc. 2012. Dictionary.com. Web
Step 6. Close the citation with the date when you accessed the definition
Include the day, month, and year. You don't need to put the date in any special way, but be sure to end it with a period.
"Citation". Random House Dictionary. New York: Random House Inc. 2012. Dictionary.com. Web. May 24, 2012
Method 3 of 6: Quoting the Printed Version of the Dictionary in APA Format
Step 1. Write down the dictionary entry used
You don't need to enclose the word in quotes, but make sure it ends with a period. Follow the format below that continues the “citation” example:
citations
Step 2. Write down the publication date of the dictionary
The publication date for the version of the dictionary used must be bracketed, with a period written before the closing parenthesis.
citations. (2003)
Step 3. Write down the name of the editor, if any
Often, this information is not provided or known. If you can't find it, you can leave it blank.
Step 4. Write down the name of the dictionary
Italicize the name of the dictionary used, but do not put punctuation after it.
citations. (2003). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
Step 5. Put the page, edition, and volume numbers in parentheses
Page numbers must begin with a "p." Editions are marked by adding “ed.” at the end, and the volume should be indicated as “Vol.” Each piece of information must be separated by commas.
citations. (2003). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (p. 57, 11th ed., Vol. 1)
Step 6. Finish with the publication location and publisher
If the name of the city is not well known, explain the location by including the name of the country or province. The location and publisher name must be comma separated, and all lines must end with a period.
citations. (2003). Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (p. 57, 11th ed., Vol. 1). Springfield, Massachusetts: Encyclopedia Britannica
Method 4 of 6: Citing Online Dictionaries in APA Format
Step 1. Describe as much information as possible from the original publication
This information includes the word described, the year of publication, the original dictionary from which the word was taken, the location of the publisher, and the name of the publisher. Follow the format below which continues the previous citation example:
citations. (2012). Random House Dictionary. New York: Random House, Inc
Step 2. Write down the online dictionary source from which you got the definitions
You only need to write the site name here in italics.
citations. (2012). Random House Dictionary. New York: Random House Inc. Dictionary.com
Step 3. Write down the date the definition was acquired
Include the day, month, and year. Start by stating, “Retrieved”, and put a comma after the year number.
citations. (2012). Random House Dictionary. New York: Random House Inc. Dictionary.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012,
Step 4. Close with the definition entry URL
Write down the URL starting with the word “from”. Don't put a period at the end of the URL.
citations. (2012). Random House Dictionary. New York: Random House Inc. Dictionary.com. Retrieved 5 December 2012, from
Method 5 of 6: Quoting the Printed Version of the Dictionary in Chicago Style
Step 1. Write down the name of the dictionary used
Include the name of the dictionary used to obtain the definition in italics, and end with a comma.
Merriem-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary,
Step 2. List the edition of the dictionary used
Explain the edition of the dictionary used by writing the edition number, followed by the abbreviation “ed.”. End with a comma.
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed.,
Step 3. Write down the word described
Introduce the word by typing the initials “s.v.,” which comes from the Latin “sub verbo”, and means “under the word.” Don't capitalize a word unless it's a proper noun, then bracket the word in quotation marks. End with a dot. Pay attention to the format below continuing the “citation” example:
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., s.v. "citations"
Method 6 of 6: Citing an Online Dictionary in Chicago Style
Step 1. Write down the name of the online dictionary
Include the name of the online dictionary used in italics. You only need the online dictionary name, not the real dictionary name. Put a comma after the dictionary name.
Dictionary.com,
Step 2. Write down the word from which the definition is taken
Type “s.v” before a word to describe it. In Latin, "s.v." means “sub verbo”, aka “under the word”. Do not capitalize the word, but bracket it with quotation marks and put a comma at the end. Follow the format below continuing the “citation” example above:
Dictionary, s.v., "citation",
Step 3. Mark when the relevant information is accessed
The trick, write the word "accessed", then continue with the day, month, and year of accessing the information. End with a comma.
Dictionary, s.v. "citation", accessed 24 May 2012,
Step 4. End with a URL
Include a URL without any special introduction. End with a dot.
