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citation

sy-TAY-shuhn /saɪˈteɪʃən/

nounB2SATACT

formallegal

An official summons to appear in court or pay a fine, issued by a law enforcement officer for a traffic violation.

A citation is the formal, legal document itself, whereas 'ticket' is the common, everyday term for it.

The story behind the word. The word citation comes from the Latin verb 'citare', meaning 'to summon, call, or cause to move'. In medieval legal systems, it was the formal call for a person to answer to a court. Today, it is the piece of paper that summons you to pay up or face a judge.

Word relationships

ticket: Ticket is the informal, everyday term, while citation is the official legal term.
summons: A summons strictly commands a court appearance, whereas a citation can often be resolved by paying a fine.

Commonly confused with

warning: A warning carries no penalty or record, while a citation is a formal charge with legal consequences.

Word family

cite (verb): To summon to appear before a court of law.

Collocations

issue a citation
written citation
traffic citation
receive a citation

Example sentences

"The officer issued a citation for speeding, which required the driver to appear in municipal court." A real citation from a classic legal case regarding traffic stops.

Memory hook

When you get a citation, you are being 'cited' (sighted) by the law for doing something wrong. Cite the site of the infraction.

When not to use

Do not use 'citation' when referring to a general warning that does not carry a legal penalty or fine.

Fun facts

In academic writing, a 'citation' also means pointing to a source, which shares the same root of 'summoning' authority to back up your claim.