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APA Style 7th edition

General & Subject-specific Dictionaries

Notes regarding Dictionaries:

When website form of online reference work content indicates last updated, include that as its publication year. However, do not include  reviewed dates. 

Online webpage/website encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc. are "inherently designed to change," and as such, references must include a date of retrieval unless a specific edition is indicated (Manual, Sects. 9.16 & 10.3).

However, treat online form of printed encyclopedias similar to chapter in edited book, and use published year.


Definition Entry in a general Dictionary, retrieved online, no entry author, no date, no editor. For direct quote, recommend providing more-specific information--see example below.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Love. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 14, 2020, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love

How to cite this work in-text:
Parenthetical: (Merriam-Webster, n.d.)
Narrative: Merriam-Webster (n.d.)
Direct quote: (Merriam-Webster, n.d., Entry 1 of 2, Definition 3b)

 

Entry in a specialized/subject Dictionary without a DOI, from most academic research databases or print version. 
Note that even though this is an ebook, the entries are not viewable in PDF.

Harris, J., & White, V. (Eds.). (2018). Feminist social work. In A dictionary of social work and social care (2nd ed.). F. A. Davis.

How to cite this work in-text:
Parenthetical: (Harris & White, 2018)
Narrative: Harris and White (2018)
Direct quote: (Harris & White, 2018, para. 2)