Citation Meaning
/ˌsaɪˈteɪʃn̩/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounAn official summons or notice given to a person to appear.
nounThe paper containing such summons or notice.
Sentence Examples
Could you please provide a citation?
Tom was issued a citation.
Academic writing should contain facts supported by citation.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The professor included a proper ____ for every source used.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He received a ____ for his many years of service to the local city.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English citacioun, from Old French citation, from Latin citātiō. By surface analysis, cite + -ation.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"No citation was issued upon this appeal returnable to the next term of this court, nor was the record filed and the cause docketed during that term. On the 29th of May, 1865, however, a citation was issued, returnable at this term, and service of this citation was acknowledged by the present district attorney; and the writ was returned and the record filed at this term, under an agreement between the district attorney and the attorney for the claimants, to submit the cause upon printed briefs."
— 1851, “United States Reports/Volume 70”, in Castro v. United States, United States Supreme Court:
"In late September, over a three-day period, Placer County conducted 183 stops among riders, some involving groups, which led to 30 citations and 25 e-motorcycles being towed."
— 2025 October 9, Denzen Cortez, “Placer County enforces e-bike and e-motorcycle regulations to curb reckless riding”, in KCRA:
"Historically, target words were garnered through focused reading programs and citations were handwritten on slips of paper which were collated alphabetically and stored in drawers for ready access (much like old-fashioned library catalogues)."
— 2018, James Lambert, “A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity”, in English World-Wide, page 3:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The professor included a proper ____ for every source used.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He received a ____ for his many years of service to the local city.