reference work

noun

A compendium of information which is not generally intended to be read from beginning to end but rather consulted on a spot basis, and is compiled for ease of reference; especially, a reference book, whether in print, digital, or both.

“a small-format reference work”

Similar
reference bookreferencebook of facts
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Meanings

nounreference work (plural reference works)

plural reference works

  1. A compendium of information which is not generally intended to be read from beginning to end but rather consulted on a spot basis, and is compiled for ease of reference; especially, a reference book, whether in print, digital, or both.

    a small-format reference work

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna book to which you can refer for authoritative facts

Similar
reference bookreferencebook of facts
Broader
book
Also see
referencereference book

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From reference + work.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 工具書 /工具书, 參考書 /参考书
  • 工具書 /工具书 (gōngjùshū)compendium of information
  • 參考書 /参考书 (cānkǎoshū)compendium of information
Danish opslagsværk
  • opslagsværkcompendium of information
Dutch naslagwerk
  • naslagwerkcompendium of information
Finnish hakuteos
  • hakuteoscompendium of information
French ouvrage de référence
  • ouvrage de référencecompendium of information
German Nachschlagewerk
  • Nachschlagewerkcompendium of information
Italian opera di riferimento, lavoro di consultazione
  • opera di riferimentocompendium of information
  • lavoro di consultazionecompendium of information
Japanese 参考図書
  • 参考図書 (sankōtosho)compendium of information
Korean 참고서
  • 참고서 (chamgoseo)compendium of information
Norwegian Bokmål oppslagsverk
  • oppslagsverkcompendium of information
Persian کتاب مرجع
  • کتاب مرجعcompendium of information
Polish vademecum, informator
  • vademecumcompendium of information
  • informatorcompendium of information
  • poradnikcompendium of information
Romanian lucrare de referință, compendiu de consultare
  • lucrare de referințăcompendium of information
  • compendiu de consultarecompendium of information
Russian спра́вочный материа́л, спра́вочные материа́лы
  • спра́вочный материа́л (správočnyj materiál)compendium of information
  • спра́вочные материа́лы (správočnyje materiály)compendium of information
Spanish obra de referencia (usu. with plural "obras")
  • obra de referencia (usu. with plural "obras")compendium of information
Thai งานอ้างอิง
  • งานอ้างอิงcompendium of information
Cite this entry
APA

reference work. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reference%20work

MLA

“reference work.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reference%20work. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “reference work,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reference%20work.

Source: reference work on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.