According to the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style, if you are citing a definition from a dictionary, you should use the following format:
- For a traditional printed dictionary:
First Mention: "Definition." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2023.
Subsequent Mention: "Definition." Dictionary.com
- For an online dictionary:
First Mention: "Definition." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2023.
Subsequent Mention: "Definition." Dictionary.com
Note that the title of the dictionary should be italicized, and the publication date and the URL should be included if available. If the dictionary does not have a publication date or a URL, you can simply include the name of the dictionary and the n.d. (meaning "no date") in place of the date.
It is important to provide a full citation for the dictionary you are using, as it allows your readers to locate the source if they wish to read it for themselves or verify the information you have provided. Proper citation is also a key component of academic integrity, as it helps to give credit to the original source of the information you are using in your work.
In addition to citing the dictionary, it is also a good idea to provide the specific definition you are using in quotation marks, as this will help your readers to understand the context in which you are using the term. For example:
According to Dictionary.com, a "platitude" is "a trite, meaningless, or prosaic statement; a commonplace."
By including both the full citation and the specific definition, you are providing your readers with the necessary information to understand and evaluate the use of the term in your work.