Legal Definitions - citation

Citation has two meanings in a legal context:

1. A reference to a source that supports a statement or is related to it. This source can be a primary legal authority like a case or a statute, or a secondary legal authority like a treatise or dictionary.
2. An order from a court or the police commanding one's appearance at a certain time and place.

Example 1: When writing a research paper, it's important to include citations to show where you found your information. For instance, if you write "According to the American Psychological Association, depression is a common mental health disorder," you would need to include a citation to the APA's source.

Example 2: If you receive a citation for a traffic violation, you may have to appear in court on a certain date. If you can't make it to court, you can try to show cause for your absence or enter a plea by mail.

These examples illustrate the two meanings of citation. In the first example, the citation is a reference to a source that supports a statement. In the second example, the citation is an order from a court or the police commanding one's appearance at a certain time and place.