Reference: APA: Dictionary
In Print
In order to cite a dictionary in APA include:
- Name of the dictionary
- Editor(s) of the dictionary (if known)
- Word defined
- Year published
- Volume number if citing a specific entry. Use total number of volumes if citing the dictionary in general
- Edition
- Page numbers (if citing a specific entry)
- Place published
- Publisher
Format:
- When citing a specific definition:
- Dictionary Entry. (Year). In B. Editor (Ed.), Name of Dictionary (Page numbers, edition, volume). Place published: Publisher.
- When citing a general dictionary:
- Editor, B. (Ed.). (Year). Name of Dictionary (Edition, Total Volumes). Place published: Publisher.
Examples:
- Examples of citing a general dictionary with and without an editor:
- Weber, C. (Ed.). (2002). Webster's Dictionary (4th ed., Vols. 1-4). Chicago: Webster Press.
- Oxford Dictionary (7th ed.). (2000). Hinsdale, IL: Penguin Press.
- Example of citing a specific dictionary entry with and without an editor:
- Quixotic. (1990). In N. Taparia (Ed.), Oxford Dictionary (p. 345, 3rd ed., vol. 5). New York: Oxford Press.
- Quixotic. (1990). Oxford Dictionary (p. 345, 3rd ed., vol. 5). New York: Oxford Press.
Online
When citing an online dictionary in APA, include as much original publication information as possible, and:
- Date Accessed
- URL
Format:
Original Publication Information. [Retrieved] date, [from] URL of Website
Original Publication Information. [Retrieved] date, [from] URL of Website
Examples:
- Virulent. (2000). Dictionary.com. Lexico Publishing Group. Retrieved August 30, 2005, from http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=virulent
