How to Cite Merriam-Webster Dictionary in MLA 9 Format

What an MLA 9 Merriam-Webster Dictionary citation looks like

In MLA 9, a dictionary entry is usually treated as a work found in a reference website. Merriam-Webster entries are often unsigned, so most citations begin with the entry title, not an author. Your goal is to help a reader locate the exact definition you used, quickly and reliably.

A standard Works Cited entry for an online Merriam-Webster definition usually follows this pattern:

“Entry word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Date of publication or last update, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

You might not always have every element, and MLA allows flexibility. Still, the order and formatting matter because they help readers identify what you used, where you found it, and when you consulted it.

Core elements, in the correct MLA order

1) Title of the entry (usually the “author” substitute)

For Merriam-Webster, the “title” is the word you looked up. Put it in quotation marks because it is a short work within a larger website.

Example format:
- “Photosynthesis.”

Why it matters: Many dictionary pages look similar. The entry title tells readers exactly which page you used.

Common pitfall: Do not italicize the entry word. Italics are for the container title, not the entry.

2) Container title (the dictionary site)

The container is the larger work that holds the entry. For Merriam-Webster, this is typically italicized:

• ** Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary,**

Why it matters: Merriam-Webster has multiple products and sections. Naming the correct container helps readers find the entry in the right place.

Common pitfall: Do not italicize “Merriam-Webster” as the publisher if it appears later. Only the container title is italicized here.

3) Publisher

For Merriam-Webster entries, the publisher is usually Merriam-Webster.

• Merriam-Webster,

Why it matters: Publisher information distinguishes this dictionary from other online dictionaries and supports credibility.

Common pitfall: Some students repeat the container as the publisher incorrectly, or omit the publisher entirely. MLA 9 often includes it for websites, unless it is the same as the container title and clearly redundant. With Merriam-Webster, it is typically fine to include the publisher as shown.

4) Publication date or last update (when available)

If the entry lists a date like “Last Updated” or a publication date, include it.

• 15 Aug. 2023,

Why it matters: Definitions can change over time. A date helps your reader understand which version you consulted.

Common pitfall: Do not invent a date. If no date is shown, you can omit this element and rely on the access date.

5) URL

Include the stable URL for the entry. MLA 9 allows you to use the URL without “https://” if you want, but consistency is important.

• www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/word

Why it matters: The URL is the most direct path for your reader.

Common pitfall: Do not paste a long tracking link if you can avoid it. Use the clean entry URL.

6) Access date (often recommended for dictionary entries)

MLA 9 says access dates are optional, but they are strongly recommended for online reference works that update frequently, including dictionaries.

• Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.

Why it matters: If the definition changes, your access date explains what you saw at the time you used it.

Common pitfall: Do not use numeric dates like 1/2/26. MLA uses day month year, like 2 Jan. 2026.

How author rules apply to Merriam-Webster entries

Your rules about author names are important in MLA overall, but Merriam-Webster dictionary entries usually have no listed author. That means you follow the MLA “no author” rule:

No author

Start with the entry title in quotation marks.

• “Word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, ...

Why it matters: MLA citations must start with the element that will be used for alphabetizing in Works Cited. If there is no author, the title becomes the first element.

Practical tip: Alphabetize by the entry word in your Works Cited. Ignore A, An, and The only when they begin the title. Most entry words do not begin with those articles anyway.

If an author is listed (rare for dictionary entries)

If Merriam-Webster ever credits an author for a specific page you are citing, then apply your author rules:

• First author inverted: Last, First Middle
• Two authors: Last, First Middle, and First Middle Last
• Three or more authors: Last, First Middle, et al.
• Full first names, not initials

Why it matters: Consistent author formatting helps readers find sources and shows respect for authors’ identities. It also keeps your Works Cited list correctly alphabetized.

Examples, with explanations and correct formatting

Example 1: Typical Merriam-Webster entry with no author and no visible date

Works Cited entry

“Altruism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altruism. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.

Why this is correct
- Starts with the entry title in quotation marks because there is no author.
- Container title is italicized.
- Publisher is listed.
- URL points directly to the entry.
- Access date is included because dictionary entries can change.

In-text citation
- MLA in-text citations typically use the first element of the Works Cited entry.
- Example: (“Altruism”)
If you mention the word in your sentence, you can omit the parenthetical:
- Example: Merriam-Webster defines altruism as … .

Common pitfall: Do not use a page number. Online dictionary entries do not have stable page numbers.

Example 2: Merriam-Webster entry that shows a last updated date

Works Cited entry

“Culture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, 12 Dec. 2024, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.

Why this is correct
- The date appears after the publisher and before the URL, which matches MLA’s standard sequence.
- Including both the update date and access date gives a clear timeline, the page version and when you consulted it.

Practical tip: If the page includes a full date, use it as shown. If it includes only a year, include just the year.

Common pitfall: Do not label the date as “Last updated” in the citation. MLA typically includes the date without extra labels.

Example 3: Citing a specific definition number within an entry (same Works Cited, clearer in-text use)

Sometimes you use a particular numbered sense, like definition 2a. MLA does not require you to put the definition number in the Works Cited entry, but you should make it clear in your writing or in-text citation.

Works Cited entry

“Network.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/network. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.

How to cite the specific sense in your text
- In your sentence: Merriam-Webster lists “network” as “an interconnected system,” sense 2a.
- Or in a parenthetical note, if needed: (“Network,” sense 2a)

Why this matters: Many entries have multiple meanings. Naming the sense prevents confusion and strengthens accuracy.

Common pitfall: Do not quote a definition without indicating which meaning you used when the entry has several.

Why these rules matter in MLA 9

They support traceability

A reader should be able to retrace your steps. The entry title, container, URL, and access date work together to make that possible.

They support credibility

Correct formatting signals careful research. Reference works like dictionaries are often used for precise wording, so accuracy in citation supports the accuracy of your writing.

They keep your Works Cited consistent and easy to scan

MLA is designed for readability. Consistent punctuation, italics, and ordering make it easy for instructors and readers to locate key details.

Practical tips and common pitfalls

Tips

• Use the entry’s clean URL, not a search results link.
• Include an access date for Merriam-Webster entries, even though MLA calls it optional.
• Quote the entry word exactly as it appears on the page, including capitalization if relevant.
• Use the dictionary name as the container, italicized, not the entry title.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Starting with Merriam-Webster as the author when no author is listed. Start with the entry title instead.
• Italicizing the entry word. Only the container title is italicized.
• Leaving out the container. The entry is not a standalone book, it belongs to the Merriam-Webster dictionary site.
• Using “n.d.” when there is no date. MLA prefers omission, plus an access date when appropriate.
• Using initials for authors if an author is listed. Your rule requires full first names, and MLA style generally favors clarity.

Quick template you can copy

Template (no author, most common)

“Entry Word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Template (if a date is provided)

“Entry Word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

If you tell me the specific word you looked up and paste the Merriam-Webster link, I can format the exact MLA 9 Works Cited entry and a matching in-text citation.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Common Errors for Merriam-Webster Dictionary Citations

Validation Checklist

Special Cases

Overview, what makes Merriam-Webster citations “special” in MLA 9

Merriam-Webster Dictionary entries look simple, but they create frequent MLA 9 edge cases because they are:

• Reference works with entries, not whole books. You usually cite the entry title, not the dictionary as a standalone item.
• Often updated. Many entries are revised without clear “edition” numbers, so you need to think carefully about dates and access dates.
• Frequently cited without authors. Most entries do not list a person as the author, so your citation often starts with the entry title.
• Published on a website with stable branding. “Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary” is the container, and you usually include the URL.

In MLA 9, your goal is to help readers find the exact entry you used, even if the page changes later.

Core MLA 9 template for Merriam-Webster online entries

When there is no listed author (most common)

Entry Title. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Publisher (optional if same as site), Date (if given), URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Notes:
- The entry title is treated like the title of a short work, so it goes in quotation marks.
- The website name is the container, so it is italicized.
- Merriam-Webster is often both the site name and the publisher, so you can usually omit the publisher to avoid repetition.
- Include an Accessed date when the entry has no publication date or when the page is likely to change.

Special cases and edge cases

1) No author listed, start with the entry title

This is the default for Merriam-Webster. MLA allows you to begin with the title when no author is credited. This also matches your rule set, “NO AUTHOR: Start with title.”

Why it matters: Works Cited entries are alphabetized, and the first element controls where the citation appears. Starting with the entry title ensures your reader can locate it quickly.

Common pitfall: Starting with “Merriam-Webster” as if it were an author. If the page does not credit an author, do not invent one.

2) Entry title that begins with “A,” “An,” or “The”

MLA says you ignore initial articles for alphabetization, but you still write the title normally in the citation.

Why it matters: Your Works Cited list should be easy to scan. Alphabetizing “The…” under T makes it harder to find.

Practical tip: Your word processor will not automatically ignore “The.” You need to alphabetize manually.

3) When the entry has a date, and when it does not

Merriam-Webster entries sometimes show an “Updated” date, a “First Known Use” date, or no clear date at all. In MLA, you want the publication or last update date of the page, if it is clearly presented as such.

• If the page shows a clear update or publication date, include it.
• If no date is shown, omit the date and include Accessed Day Month Year.

Why it matters: Online reference entries can change. A date helps your reader understand which version you used.

Common pitfall: Using “n.d.” for “no date.” MLA 9 generally prefers simply leaving the date out, then adding an access date.

4) Citing a specific definition number or sense

MLA does not require page numbers for web sources, and Merriam-Webster entries usually do not have stable page-like numbering. Still, you can help your reader by specifying the definition number in your in-text citation or in your prose.

Options:
- Mention it in your sentence, for example, “definition 2a.”
- If your instructor allows, you can add a brief locator at the end of the Works Cited entry, but this is less common in MLA.

Why it matters: Many entries have multiple senses. Without a sense number, your reader might not know which meaning you used.

Practical tip: In your notes, record the sense label you used (for example, “2a” or “3b”) at the time you looked it up.

5) When there is a credited author or editor (rare, but possible)

Sometimes a dictionary project page, a special article, or a companion explanation may list an author. If you truly have an author, follow your author rules:

• First author inverted, full first name.
• Two authors use “and,” second author not inverted.
• Three or more authors use first author then “et al.”

Why it matters: Correct author formatting affects both credibility and alphabetization. It also respects the author’s identity, especially since your rules require full first names.

Common pitfall: Treating the corporate name “Merriam-Webster” as an author when the page does not explicitly credit it as such. Corporate authors are allowed in MLA, but you should only use them when the source clearly presents that entity as the author.

6) Print Merriam-Webster Dictionary versus Merriam-Webster.com

If you use a print dictionary, your entry will look different.

Typical print entry format:
Entry Title. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, edited by Editor Name, Edition, Publisher, Year.

Edge cases for print:
- If you used a print volume with a clear editor, include the editor.
- If the entry spans pages, include the page number in the citation if your instructor expects it, although MLA often treats dictionary entries as stable enough without page ranges.

Why it matters: Web citations need URLs and often access dates. Print citations need edition and publication details, and no URL.

7) Stable URLs, long URLs, and database style links

Merriam-Webster entry URLs are usually stable and short. Use the clean URL from the address bar.

Common pitfalls:
- Copying a tracking URL or a URL with extra parameters.
- Adding “https://” is fine, but MLA does not require it as long as the URL works. Many instructors prefer including it for clarity.

8) In-text citations for Merriam-Webster entries

MLA in-text citations usually use the first element of the Works Cited entry.

• If your Works Cited begins with the entry title, your in-text citation uses a shortened title in quotation marks.
• If you mention the entry title in the sentence, you may not need a parenthetical citation, depending on context.

Why it matters: In-text citations must clearly point to one Works Cited entry. If you cite multiple Merriam-Webster entries, the entry title is the clearest identifier.

Examples with explanations (correct MLA 9 formatting)

Example 1, standard online entry with no author and no date

Works Cited
“Serendipity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serendipity. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

How it works
- No author is listed, so the citation starts with the entry title in quotation marks.
- The container is Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary in italics.
- No date appears on many entries, so you omit the date and include an Accessed date.
- The URL points directly to the entry.

In-text citation
(“Serendipity”)

Common pitfall to avoid
Do not write: Merriam-Webster Dictionary. That would make it hard to distinguish multiple entries from the same dictionary.

Example 2, online entry with an update date shown on the page

Works Cited
“Literally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, 15 Dec. 2024, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literally. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

How it works
- The entry still has no author, so you start with the title.
- A clear update date is included, which helps readers understand the version you saw.
- You can still include an access date, especially if you expect ongoing updates.

In-text citation
(“Literally”)

Practical tip
If you are quoting the entry’s wording, keeping the access date is especially helpful because definitions can be revised.

Example 3, print dictionary entry (edition specific)

Works Cited
“Pragmatic.” Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., Merriam-Webster, 2003.

How it works
- Print sources do not use URLs or access dates.
- The edition matters because definitions can differ across editions.
- If an editor is prominently listed, you can include “edited by Full Name,” but many student citations omit the editor if the dictionary is widely recognizable and the edition is provided.

Common pitfall to avoid
Do not format the entry title in italics. The dictionary title is italicized, the entry is in quotation marks.

Why these rules matter (beyond “following MLA”)

• Findability: A reader should be able to locate the exact entry quickly.
• Version clarity: Dates and access dates show which wording you relied on.
• Consistency: Starting with the entry title keeps multiple dictionary citations organized and easy to scan.
• Credibility: Clean, accurate citations signal careful research, especially when definitions are central to your argument.

Practical tips and common pitfalls checklist

Tips

• Copy the direct entry URL, not a search results page.
• Record the access date the same day you consulted the entry.
• If you used a specific sense, note it in your draft, for example, “definition 2a,” then integrate that detail in your sentence.

Pitfalls

• Inventing an author when none is listed.
• Using “n.d.” instead of omitting the date and adding an access date.
• Italicizing the entry title instead of putting it in quotation marks.
• Citing the dictionary home page instead of the specific entry page.
• Alphabetizing entries under “The” or “A” instead of the next significant word.

If you tell me whether you are citing the online entry, the app, or a specific print edition, I can tailor a mini template that matches your exact case and the information shown on your entry page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a Merriam-Webster Dictionary entry in MLA 9?

In MLA 9, cite a Merriam-Webster entry like a work in an online reference source. Start with the entry title in quotation marks, then the dictionary name in italics, the publisher (often Merriam-Webster, Incorporated), the date of publication or last update if listed, the URL, and an access date if the entry is likely to change. Practical example, if you define a key term in your introduction, you can cite the entry right after the definition in your Works Cited. If no date is shown, omit it and include an access date. You can confirm the core format and punctuation in the MLA Handbook guidance on online reference works, and in MLA’s official style site. Useful resources: https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/ and https://style.mla.org/citing-dictionaries/.

Do I need to include an access date when citing Merriam-Webster in MLA?

MLA 9 treats access dates as optional, but they are recommended when a source can change over time, which is common for online dictionary entries. If you are using Merriam-Webster to support a definition, pronunciation, or usage note, an access date helps readers verify what you saw on that day. Practical scenario, if your instructor checks your citation weeks later and the entry has been updated, the access date explains the mismatch. Put the access date at the end of the citation, for example, “Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.” If the entry clearly shows a last updated date, you can still include an access date, especially for assignments that emphasize transparency. For more detail on when to use access dates, see MLA guidance: https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/.

What if the Merriam-Webster entry does not list an author or publication date?

Most Merriam-Webster entries do not have a personal author, so in MLA you begin the Works Cited entry with the word you looked up, in quotation marks. If no publication or update date appears, you omit the date field rather than guessing. Then list the dictionary title in italics, the publisher, the URL, and an access date. Practical scenario, if you are writing about shifting meanings of a term and you cite multiple dictionary definitions, leaving out a missing date prevents inaccurate information in your Works Cited. Your in-text citation will usually be the entry title in quotation marks, or a shortened version if needed. For dictionary specific examples and missing element guidance, consult: https://style.mla.org/citing-dictionaries/ and https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html.

How do I do an in-text citation for a Merriam-Webster definition in MLA?

For MLA in-text citations, use the first element of your Works Cited entry. For Merriam-Webster, that is typically the entry title, so your parenthetical citation is usually the word itself in quotation marks. Practical scenario, if you write, “In this essay, ‘resilience’ means the ability to recover quickly,” you can cite it as (“Resilience”). If you cite multiple entries with similar titles, use enough of the entry title to distinguish them, or add the dictionary name in the signal phrase, for example, “According to Merriam-Webster…” MLA does not require page numbers for web dictionary entries. If you are quoting a specific sense number, you can mention the sense in your prose, for example, “sense 2a,” while keeping the parenthetical citation simple. More help: https://style.mla.org/parenthetical-citations/.

How do I cite a specific definition number or sense from Merriam-Webster in MLA?

MLA does not have a mandatory special field for sense numbers, but you can make your citation clearer by naming the sense in your sentence. Practical scenario, if a word has several meanings and your argument depends on one of them, write something like, “Merriam-Webster lists ‘culture’ in sense 3 as …,” then cite the entry normally in your Works Cited and use an in-text citation like (“Culture”). If you quote the definition, reproduce it exactly and use quotation marks. Avoid inventing page numbers. If you need even more precision, you can add a brief locator in your prose, such as “sense 1b,” and include an access date since senses can be reorganized. For reference source citation guidance, see: https://style.mla.org/citing-dictionaries/ and MLA’s quick guide: https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/.

How should I cite Merriam-Webster if I used the app, a print dictionary, or a word-of-the-day page?

Choose the format that matches what you actually used. For the website or app content, treat it as an online dictionary entry, include the entry title, Merriam-Webster Dictionary in italics, the publisher, a date if listed, the URL (or a stable link if the app provides one), and an access date. Practical scenario, if you found a “Word of the Day” explanation with usage notes, cite it like a web page, with the page title in quotation marks, the site name in italics, the publisher, date, URL, and access date. For print Merriam-Webster, cite it like a book, include the dictionary title in italics, edition, publisher, year, and the entry word if needed in your in-text citation. Detailed help: https://style.mla.org/citing-dictionaries/ and https://style.mla.org/citing-websites/.

Last Updated: 2026-01-01
Reading Time: 10 minutes