citation
noun
ci·ta·tion
sī-ˈtā-shən 
1
: an official summons to appear (as before a court)
2
3
: mention: such as
a
: a formal statement of the achievements of a person receiving an academic honor
b
: specific reference in a military dispatch to meritorious performance of duty
a citation for bravery
Examples of citation in a Sentence
He was issued a citation.
He received a citation for reckless driving.
gave her a citation for bravery
Recent Examples on the Web
In all of 2024, though, police issued just one citation for underage drinking at the venue, out of 168 issued last year citywide, according to public records.
—
Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2025
The services offered at the facility include informal hearings for drivers whose privileges have been suspended or revoked for a single DUI citation, which doesn’t involve a death, and other moving violations.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Police gave five other homeless people citations for unlawful camping from the same camp, near the Marconi/Arcade Light Rail station, on the same day, according to the citations.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Additionally, he was issued traffic citations for reckless driving.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for citation
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Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2025
The services offered at the facility include informal hearings for drivers whose privileges have been suspended or revoked for a single DUI citation, which doesn’t involve a death, and other moving violations.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
Police gave five other homeless people citations for unlawful camping from the same camp, near the Marconi/Arcade Light Rail station, on the same day, according to the citations.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Additionally, he was issued traffic citations for reckless driving.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for citation
Cite this Entry
“Citation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/citation. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
citation
noun
ci·ta·tion
sī-ˈtā-shən
1
: an official order to appear (as before a court)
2
a
: an act or instance of quoting
3
: a formal statement of what a person did to be chosen to receive an award
Legal Definition
citation
noun
ci·ta·tion
sī-ˈtā-shən
1
: a writ giving notice to a person to appear in court: as
a
: a process served upon an interested party in a probate proceeding
b
: a notice to a person that he or she is charged with a petty offense (as a traffic violation)
also
: the document embodying the notice
Note: Citations are issued in minor criminal cases as an alternative to arrest. Often a person may consent in writing to the penalty specified on the citation and forgo an appearance in court.
2
: the citing of a previously decided case or recognized legal authority as support for an argument
also
: the caption used for referring to such a case or authority especially as published in a reporter
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