Citing the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is simple: record the entry word, dictionary title, publisher, URL, and the date you viewed the entry.
If you’re using a definition in a paper, citing the merriam webster dictionary keeps your reader on the same page as you. It also shows where the wording came from, which matters when your point hinges on a single term.
This guide walks you through what to capture from any Merriam-Webster entry, then gives clean templates for MLA, APA, and Chicago. You’ll see sample citations you can copy, plus a quick checklist at the end.
Citing the Merriam Webster Dictionary For School And Research
When A Dictionary Citation Belongs In Your Work
You don’t need a dictionary citation every time you use a common word. You do need one when the definition is part of your claim, when you quote the entry, or when you point to a specialized sense of a term.
What To Capture From A Merriam-Webster Entry
Merriam-Webster pages are updated, and the wording on an entry can shift. That’s why most styles either ask for a year tied to the page or treat the date as unknown and lean on an access date.
Before you format anything, grab these details from the entry page:
- Entry word (the headword at the top of the page)
- Part of speech if your style calls for it (noun, verb, adjective)
- Sense number if you’re citing a specific definition in a list
- Dictionary title (Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, or the print title)
- Publisher (Merriam-Webster)
- URL that leads straight to the entry
- Date you accessed the entry (the day you viewed it)
Most Merriam-Webster entries also include a built-in “Cite this Entry” box with ready-made citations. Use it as a starting point.
Quick Templates For Online Entries
The table below shows what each style usually wants for an online Merriam-Webster entry. Use it to pick a format fast, then use the sections after it to fill in the blanks.
| Style | What You Include | Template For An Online Entry |
|---|---|---|
| MLA 9 | Entry word, site title, publisher, URL, access date | “Entry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, URL. Accessed Day Mon. Year. |
| APA 7 | Entry word, year or n.d., dictionary title, publisher, URL | Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Entry. In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. URL |
| Chicago (Notes) | Entry word, dictionary title, publisher, access date, URL | 1. “Entry,” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (Merriam-Webster), accessed Month Day, Year, URL. |
| Chicago (Bibliography) | Entry word, dictionary title, publisher, access date, URL | “Entry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL. |
| Chicago (Author-Date) | Group author, year or n.d., entry word, dictionary title, URL | Merriam-Webster. n.d. “Entry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. URL. |
| Harvard | Entry word, year or n.d., dictionary title, URL, access date | “Entry” (n.d.) Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year). |
| IEEE | Entry word, dictionary title, URL, access date | “Entry,” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. [Online]. Available: URL. [Accessed: Day-Mon-Year]. |
| Turabian | Like Chicago, with your required punctuation | “Entry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL. |
Citing Merriam-Webster Dictionary Entries Online By Style
MLA 9 Format For Merriam-Webster
MLA treats a dictionary entry as a source without a named author. You lead with the entry word in quotation marks, then the title of the dictionary site in italics. Since online entries can change, MLA commonly uses an access date.
MLA template for a Merriam-Webster online entry:
“Entry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, URL. Accessed Day Mon. Year.
Sample:
“Citation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citation. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.
In your text, MLA uses the entry word in parentheses. If the entry word appears in your sentence, you can leave the parentheses off.
- Parenthetical: (“citation”)
- Narrative: Merriam-Webster defines “citation” as …
APA 7 Format For Merriam-Webster
APA treats Merriam-Webster as a group author. Many dictionary entries don’t show a clear publication date at the top, so APA often uses “n.d.” and leans on the URL.
APA template for a Merriam-Webster online entry:
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Entry. In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. URL
Sample:
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Citation. In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citation
In-text, APA uses the group author and year:
- Parenthetical: (Merriam-Webster, n.d.)
- Narrative: Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines “citation” as …
If you want an official APA checkpoint, the APA Style site has dictionary entry reference examples that show both in-text and reference list formatting: APA dictionary entry reference examples.
Chicago Notes And Bibliography Format
Chicago has two common tracks. Notes and Bibliography is common in history and the humanities. You cite the entry in a footnote or endnote, and you also list it in your bibliography if your work includes one.
Footnote template:
1. “Entry,” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (Merriam-Webster), accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Bibliography template:
“Entry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
Sample footnote:
1. “Citation,” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (Merriam-Webster), accessed December 23, 2025, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citation.
Chicago Author-Date Format
Author-Date is common in many social science settings. You place a short citation in the text, then list the full entry in your reference list.
Reference list template:
Merriam-Webster. n.d. “Entry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. URL.
In-text template:
(Merriam-Webster n.d., s.v. “entry”)
Chicago uses “s.v.” to point to a dictionary entry by headword. Some instructors also want an access date in the reference list; follow the rules you’ve been given.
Details That Make A Citation Precise
Use The Right Entry Word And Sense
If you’re pulling a definition from a list, name the sense. The cleanest method is to mention the sense number in your sentence, then cite the entry normally.
Sample sentence:
Merriam-Webster lists “citation” as a noun with several senses; I’m using sense 2.
Match The Dictionary Version You Used
Merriam-Webster has more than one online product: the main dictionary, a learner’s dictionary, and other reference tools. Each has its own title line in the citation box.
If you used the learner’s dictionary, keep that title in your citation. If you used the thesaurus entry for a word, name the thesaurus in the title field so your reader can land on the same page.
Access Dates And Retrieval Dates
Access dates are your safety net for pages that can be revised. MLA expects an access date for many web sources. Chicago often asks for one as well. APA uses retrieval dates only in certain cases, so follow the guidance your instructor uses.
Merriam-Webster also publishes guidance on what details to include when you cite their online dictionary. Their checklist matches the details above and is worth a quick look when you’re building a citation from scratch: Merriam-Webster guidance on citing the dictionary.
Stable URLs Beat Copy-Pasted Search Results
Don’t paste a URL from a search results page. Open the entry itself, then copy the clean URL that ends with /dictionary/your-word. That link is more likely to work months later.
How To Cite Merriam-Webster In Your Paper
In-Text Citations Without Headaches
For MLA, you can usually cite the entry word in parentheses. For APA, cite the group author and year. For Chicago, you’ll use a note or an author-date parenthetical, based on the track you’re using.
If you quote the definition, put the quote in quotation marks and cite right after it. If you paraphrase, keep the citation close to the sentence that depends on that wording.
Quoting A Definition Cleanly
Dictionary definitions can be short. That’s nice, since you can quote them without breaking your paragraph. Keep the quote tight and include only the part your point needs.
- Quote the exact words you need.
- Skip extra labels unless they affect meaning.
- Keep punctuation consistent with your style guide.
Paraphrasing Without Losing The Meaning
If the definition is longer, a paraphrase can read better. You still cite the entry, since the wording and sense came from the dictionary. Stay close to the meaning, and don’t add claims the entry doesn’t make.
If you’re citing a definition in a slide or handout, keep it short on the slide and keep the full citation in speaker notes or a final references slide. Use the entry word and a short URL on-screen, then list the full URL and access date where readers can copy it. That keeps slides tidy and readable.
Print Merriam-Webster Citations
What Changes In Print Citations
Print dictionaries don’t use URLs, and access dates are usually not needed. You cite the edition, publisher, year, and page number if your style calls for it. Some print entries are spread across multiple pages, so record the full page range when you cite.
MLA Template For A Print Entry
“Entry.” Title of Dictionary, edited by Editor Name, edition, Publisher, Year, p. Page.
APA Template For A Print Entry
Entry. (Year). In Editor Initial. Editor Surname (Ed.), Title of dictionary (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.
Chicago Template For A Print Entry
“Entry.” In Title of Dictionary. Edition. Place: Publisher, Year.
Common Slip-Ups And Fast Fixes
Most citation mistakes come from missing details or mixing parts of two styles. The table below is a quick fix list you can scan before you turn your work in.
| Slip-Up | What To Do Instead | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Using a search-results URL | Copy the entry’s clean URL | Your reader lands on the right page |
| Leaving out the access date (MLA/Chicago) | Add the date you viewed the entry | Shows which version you used |
| Writing the entry word without quotes (MLA) | Put the entry word in quotation marks | Matches MLA pattern for reference works |
| Listing a person as the author | Use Merriam-Webster as publisher or group author | Online entries usually don’t have named authors |
| Mixing APA and MLA punctuation | Stick to one style’s template end to end | Prevents messy hybrid citations |
| Citing the wrong Merriam-Webster product | Use the exact title shown on the page | Clarifies which reference tool you used |
| Skipping the style guide’s rule on retrieval dates | Check APA’s dictionary entry examples | Meets the rules used in many courses |
Copy-Ready Checklist Before You Submit
Run this quick list on your citation. It catches the errors teachers circle in red.
- Entry word matches the page you used.
- Dictionary title matches the product (Dictionary, Learner’s, Thesaurus).
- Publisher is listed as Merriam-Webster when your style asks for it.
- URL leads straight to the entry.
- Access date is included when your style uses it.
- Punctuation matches one style from start to finish.
- In-text citation style matches the reference list style.
Once you’ve done that, you’re done. Your reader can find the exact entry you used, and your citation looks clean. If you’re citing multiple definitions, keep the format consistent.
One last time, if your assignment hinges on definitions, citing the merriam webster dictionary gives your reader a clear trail to follow.