citation

[ sahy-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. Military. mention of a soldier or a unit in orders, usually for gallantry:

   She received a presidential citation.

2. any award or commendation, as for outstanding service, hard work, or devotion to duty, especially a formal letter or statement recounting a person's achievements.

   Synonyms: kudos, reward, laurel, honor, award

3. a summons, especially to appear in court.
4. a document containing such a summons.
5. the act of citing or quoting a reference to an authority or a precedent.
6. a passage cited; quotation.

   Synonyms: quote, extract, passage, excerpt

7. Also . a quotation showing a particular word or phrase in context.
8. Also . mention or enumeration.

citation

/ ˈsaɪtətərɪ; -trɪ; saɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the quoting of a book or author in support of a fact
2. a passage or source cited for this purpose
3. a listing or recounting, as of facts
4. an official commendation or award, esp for bravery or outstanding service, work, etc, usually in the form of a formal statement made in public
5. law
   1. an official summons to appear in court
   2. the document containing such a summons
6. law the quoting of decided cases to serve as guidance to a court

Derived Forms

• citatory, adjective

Other Words From

• ci·tation·al adjective
• nonci·tation noun
• preci·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of citation¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English citacio(u)n, from Late Latin citātiōn- (stem of citātiō ), equivalent to Latin citāt(us), past participle of citāre “to set in motion, call before a court” + -iōn- noun suffix; cite ¹none, -ion none

Example Sentences

Through her website Web3 is Going Just Great and newsletter Citation Needed, she keeps tabs on the hacks, scams, failures, hype and assorted legal difficulties swirling about the cryptocurrency world.

From Los Angeles Times

The submarine and its crew were later awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its service during the war.

From BBC

“Neither the issuance of this Citation nor its non-payment will be reflected in your official driving record,” it reads.

From Los Angeles Times

Citations aren’t issued for nonpayment, and riders may refuse to cooperate with ambassadors, who spend most of their time helping and educating travelers.

From Seattle Times

Deliveries of the Citation Ascend are expected to begin in 2025 when the aircraft, currently under development, is expected to enter into service.

From Reuters

Related Words

• commendation
• summons