How to Cite a Dictionary or Encyclopedia Entry in Chicago

Online reference works change, so most styles want the date you looked the entry up. This page follows Chicago 18th edition (notes and bibliography), 18th edition (2024).

Chicago format for a dictionary or encyclopedia entry

Chicago 18th edition (notes and bibliography)

Bibliography entry

Merriam-Webster. “Culture.” In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture.

Footnote

Merriam-Webster, “Culture,” in Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, accessed September 28, 2026, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture.

Later footnotes

Merriam-Webster, “Culture.”

Style: Chicago 18th edition (notes and bibliography)

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Author or publisher
Date published

Leave blank if there is none; the style prints n.d. where the manual says to.

Missing: most styles need this.

Missing: most styles need this.

Editor
Date accessed

Harvard and MLA print it for web sources; APA only for pages that change over time.

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Preview: Chicago 18th edition (notes and bibliography)

Bibliography (0)

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    Where to find the details

    • Many online dictionaries show no date: leave it blank and the style prints n.d.

    Required in most styles: entry word or title, dictionary or encyclopedia.

    Cite a dictionary or encyclopedia entry in another style

    Other sources

    Questions

    What do I need to cite a dictionary or encyclopedia entry in Chicago?

    At minimum: entry word or title, dictionary or encyclopedia. Many online dictionaries show no date: leave it blank and the style prints n.d.

    What does a dictionary or encyclopedia entry look like in Chicago?

    Bibliography entry: Merriam-Webster. “Culture.” In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Accessed September 28, 2026. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture. Footnote: Merriam-Webster, “Culture,” in Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, accessed September 28, 2026, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture.

    Is this free?

    Yes. No account and no limit. Your bibliography is saved in this browser only, and you can export it to Word, BibTeX, RIS or CSL-JSON.

    Citations are formatted by citeproc-js by Frank Bennett (CPAL-1.0, or AGPL-1.0), the engine behind Zotero and Mendeley, running the official Citation Style Language styles (10,863 styles, commit 2e93558) and locales (commit a89adec), used under CC BY-SA 3.0. AGLC4 citations use the LexIntellect AGLC4 engine, checked against the Guide's worked examples. Always check a citation against the manual or your institution's guide before you submit.