Encyclopedia and dictionary entries are reference works — concise, authoritative summaries on a specific topic or term. MLA cites them like any other short work inside a larger container: the entry title goes in quotation marks and the reference work title is italicized. The format shifts slightly depending on whether the entry has a named author and whether you accessed it in print or online.
Reference works are common sources in introductory paragraphs, literature reviews, and definitional arguments. Students cite them frequently but often format them incorrectly — especially Wikipedia, which has its own quirks. This guide covers every scenario you're likely to encounter.
Print Encyclopedia Entry — With an Author
Some encyclopedia entries are signed by a contributor. When an author's name appears at the end of the entry, list them as the author:
Works Cited:
Kastan, David Scott. "Romanticism." The Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature, edited by David Scott Kastan, vol. 4, Oxford UP, 2006, pp. 384–92.
In-text citation:
(Kastan 386)
What to notice:
- The entry title ("Romanticism") is in quotation marks
- The encyclopedia title is italicized
- The editor, volume, publisher, year, and page range are included
- When the author and editor are the same person, list them in both positions
Print Encyclopedia Entry — Without an Author
If no author is identified, begin with the entry title:
Works Cited:
"Rhetoric." The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics, edited by Alex Preminger and T. V. F. Brogan, 3rd ed., Princeton UP, 1993, pp. 1044–58.
In-text citation:
("Rhetoric" 1046)
Online Encyclopedia Entry
Online encyclopedias follow the same pattern but add the URL. If the content is regularly updated (as with most online reference works), include an access date.
Encyclopædia Britannica
Works Cited:
"Postcolonialism." Encyclopædia Britannica, 15 Aug. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/postcolonialism. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
In-text citation:
("Postcolonialism")
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Works Cited:
Crowell, Steven. "Existentialism." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, 2023, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
In-text citation:
(Crowell)
When to include an access date: MLA 9th edition recommends including an access date when the source content may change over time. Online encyclopedias are frequently updated, so adding "Accessed [date]" is good practice.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia and follows the standard format for online reference works. MLA does not prohibit citing Wikipedia, but many instructors do — always check your assignment guidelines.
Format
Works Cited:
"Narrative." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Feb. 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
In-text citation:
("Narrative")
What to notice:
- The article title is in quotation marks
- Wikipedia is italicized as the container
- Wikimedia Foundation is the publisher
- The date is the last revision date of the article (visible in the article's history)
- An access date is included because Wikipedia content changes frequently
How to Find the Revision Date
- Go to the Wikipedia article
- Click the "View history" tab at the top
- The most recent date at the top of the list is the article's last revision date
A Note on Wikipedia in Academic Writing
While MLA provides a format for Wikipedia, it's best used as a starting point rather than a primary source in academic papers. Wikipedia is useful for:
- Getting an overview of a topic before diving into scholarly sources
- Finding citations in the reference section that point to published research
- Defining basic terms in informal or introductory contexts
For a formal paper, prefer peer-reviewed sources. If you must cite Wikipedia, be transparent about it.
Print Dictionary Entry
Dictionary citations use the defined word as the entry title:
Standard Dictionary
Works Cited:
"Empathy." The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th ed., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011.
In-text citation:
("Empathy")
You don't need page numbers for alphabetically arranged reference works — the reader can find the entry by looking up the word.
Specialized Dictionary
Works Cited:
"Free Indirect Discourse." A Dictionary of Narratology, by Gerald Prince, 2nd ed., U of Nebraska P, 2003.
In-text citation:
(Prince)
When the dictionary has a named author, use them as the author.
Online Dictionary Entry
Merriam-Webster
Works Cited:
"Empathy." Merriam-Webster, 2026, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empathy. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
In-text citation:
("Empathy")
Oxford English Dictionary (OED)
Works Cited:
"Sublime, adj." Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, 2024, https://www.oed.com/dictionary/sublime_adj. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
In-text citation:
("Sublime")
What to notice:
- For the OED, include the part of speech abbreviation ("adj.," "n.," "v.") if the word has multiple entries
- The OED is a subscription database, so access may be through your library
Specialized Reference Works
Subject-specific encyclopedias follow the same format:
Literary Reference
Works Cited:
Abrams, M. H. "Irony." A Glossary of Literary Terms, 12th ed., Cengage Learning, 2024, pp. 184–89.
In-text citation:
(Abrams 185)
Philosophical Reference
Works Cited:
Audi, Robert, editor. "Epistemology." The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, 3rd ed., Cambridge UP, 2015, pp. 325–31.
In-text citation:
("Epistemology" 326)
In-Text Citation Quick Reference
| Source Type | Works Cited Starts With | In-Text Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Encyclopedia (with author) | Kastan, David Scott. | (Kastan 386) |
| Encyclopedia (no author) | "Rhetoric." | ("Rhetoric" 1046) |
| Online encyclopedia | "Postcolonialism." | ("Postcolonialism") |
| Stanford Encyclopedia | Crowell, Steven. | (Crowell) |
| Wikipedia | "Narrative." | ("Narrative") |
| Print dictionary | "Empathy." | ("Empathy") |
| Online dictionary | "Empathy." | ("Empathy") |
| OED | "Sublime, adj." | ("Sublime") |
| Specialized reference | Abrams, M. H. | (Abrams 185) |
Common Mistakes
- Omitting the access date for online reference works. Since encyclopedias and dictionaries are regularly updated, include an access date so readers know which version you consulted.
- Italicizing the entry title. The entry title goes in quotation marks — only the encyclopedia or dictionary title gets italics.
- Forgetting the publisher for Wikipedia. Wikipedia's publisher is Wikimedia Foundation — include it in the citation.
- Using the wrong date for Wikipedia. Use the article's last revision date from the View History tab, not the date you accessed it (that goes in "Accessed [date]").
- Including page numbers for alphabetically arranged works. If the reference work is arranged alphabetically (like a standard dictionary), page numbers are unnecessary — the reader can find the entry by the word.
- Citing a dictionary definition without context. If you're using a definition to support an argument, explain why that particular definition matters — don't just drop it in.
What's Next
Now that you know how to cite encyclopedias and dictionaries, explore related guides:
- How to Cite a Source With No Author in MLA — many reference entries lack named authors
- How to Cite a Website in MLA Format — for web-based reference sources
- MLA Works Cited Page — the complete guide to building Works Cited entries
Archivero can simplify reference work citations — save a dictionary or encyclopedia page to your library, and the Works Cited entry is generated automatically with the entry title, source, and access information.
