# referencing

/ˈɹɛfɝənsɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈɛfɹənsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/referencing
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. mentioning or citing

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

mentioning a person, place, or piece of information to support what you are saying.

For teachers: the act of citing a source or mentioning a specific entity to provide context or authority.

- The author is referencing a famous study from the 1990s in this chapter.
- By referencing the latest climate data, the researcher was able to provide a more compelling argument for immediate policy changes.

Usage: Often used with a direct object in academic or professional contexts.

### 2. the process of providing sources

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the system of listing the books or websites you used in your work.

For teachers: the systematic practice of providing citations within a text to acknowledge sources.

- Correct referencing is very important when you write a university essay.
- The professor noted that the student's referencing was inconsistent, as it mixed several different citation styles within the same bibliography.

Usage: Commonly used as an uncountable noun referring to the general practice of citation.

## Examples

- She is referencing a famous study in her presentation.
- When writing your final essay, ensure you are referencing all your sources correctly to avoid any issues with plagiarism.
- The author spent several chapters referencing obscure historical documents to build a credible foundation for his controversial theory regarding the city's origins.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.