How to cite a Wikipedia article
Quick answer
Always cite a specific revision via the permanent URL (History → Permalink), never the live URL.
Why this one is tricky
Wikipedia articles change constantly and any reader can edit them.
Example (APA 7)
Citation. (2024, April 2). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Citation&oldid=EXAMPLE
Most common mistake
Using Wikipedia as a primary source. It's a tertiary reference — cite the primary sources Wikipedia links to instead.
Citing a Wikipedia article more than once?
Use the free Citation Generator for a single reference, or upload your whole .docx to DEEPNOTIS to handle every tricky citation at once.
Last updated: 5 May 2026