What does "citation" mean?
An official summons or notice given to a person to appear.
Citation
/ˌsaɪˈteɪʃn̩/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An official summons or notice given to a person to appear.
- Grammar: citation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: quotation, reference, accolade, acknowledgment.
- Useful contrasts: acquittal, dismissal, omission.
- Usage evidence: In assessing scientific work, citation counts provide a more reliable indicator, than the impact factor of the journal in which it was published.
How to use "citation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "citation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "citation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "citation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "citation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "citation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "quotation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "citation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An official summons or notice given to a person to appear. countable, uncountable
"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."
- 2 a summons that commands the appearance of a party at a proceeding wordnet
- 3 The paper containing such summons or notice. countable, uncountable
- 4 a passage or expression that is quoted or cited wordnet
- 5 The act of citing a passage from a text, or from another person, using the exact words of the original text or speech and giving credit to the original by referencing. countable, uncountable
Show 9 more definitions
- 6 an official award (as for bravery or service) usually given as formal public statement wordnet
- 7 An entry in a list of sources from which information was taken, typically following a prescribed bibliographical style; a reference. countable, uncountable
- 8 a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage wordnet
- 9 The passage or words quoted; a quotation. countable, uncountable
- 10 (law) the act of citing (as of spoken words or written passages or legal precedents etc.) wordnet
- 11 A quotation with attached bibliographical details demonstrating the use of a particular lexical item in a dictionary, especially a dictionary on historical principles. countable, uncountable
"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)."
- 12 Enumeration; mention. countable, uncountable
"It's a simple citation of facts."
- 13 A reference to decided cases, or books of authority, to prove a point in law. countable, uncountable
- 14 A commendation in recognition of some achievement, or a formal statement of an achievement. countable, uncountable
Antonyms
Example
"In assessing scientific work, citation counts provide a more reliable indicator, than the impact factor of the journal in which it was published."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "citation"?
Common synonyms include: quotation, reference, accolade, acknowledgment, acknowledgment, assault.
How do you use "citation" in a sentence?
In assessing scientific work, citation counts provide a more reliable indicator, than the impact factor of the journal in which it was published.
How do you pronounce "citation"?
Pronounced /ˌsaɪˈteɪʃn̩/.
Etymology
From Middle English citacioun, from Old French citation, from Latin citātiō. By surface analysis, cite + -ation.