1. references to sources of information in academic or scholarly work
Usage: academic writing
2. official notices or summons, especially for traffic violations or court appearances
Usage: legal
3. formal mentions or acknowledgments of achievement or merit
Usage: formal

Examples

• The research paper included over fifty citations from peer-reviewed journals.
• Students must format their citations according to MLA style.
• He received two parking citations in one week.
• The officer issued citations to drivers who ran the red light.
• The soldier received citations for bravery in combat.
• Her work earned citations from several professional organizations.
• The bibliography contained all the necessary citations for the thesis.