Citation and Reference

Citation

Citation noun - A passage referred to, repeated, or offered as an example.
Usage example: in your paper be sure to include citations to back up any points you make about the play

Reference is a synonym for citation in connection topic. In some cases you can use "Reference" instead a noun "Citation", when it comes to topics like excerpt, quotation, mention, allusion. popular alternative

Nearby Words: cite, cited, citing

Reference

Reference noun - Something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information.
Usage example: the author's argument is interesting, but the lack of references makes me wonder if it can be proven
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Synonyms for Reference

Citation is a synonym for reference in allusion topic. You can use "Citation" instead a noun "Reference", if it concerns topics such as connection, line, mention, source. popular alternative

How words are described

good good citation good reference
common common citation common reference
big big citation big reference
earliest earliest citation earliest reference

Both words in one sentence

  • Web Video / Echo Chamber The Other Wiki: The people backing Ace's vlog series, [citation needed] Trade Snark: Played with; the name of Ace's vlog series could be considered this with reference to The Other Wiki.
Cite this Source
Reference and Citation. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/citation/reference
Citation & Reference. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/citation/reference>.
Reference or Citation. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/citation/reference.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "citation" and "reference" have occurred on timeline