reference book

American  

noun

1. a book containing useful facts or specially organized information, as an encyclopedia, dictionary, atlas, yearbook, etc.

2. Also called pass, passbook.  South African.  a domestic identity document formerly required to be carried by Black citizens.

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reference book British  

noun

1. a book, such as an encyclopedia, dictionary, etc, from which information may be obtained

2. another name for passbook

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Etymology

Origin of reference book

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The reference book receives about 1,000 submissions a week from people looking to establish new records for human achievement and the extremes of the natural world.

From Washington Times

That work grew out of The New York Times Index, which is a reference book of every person, organization, location and event the paper has written about.

From New York Times

I help them perfect how to ask the question to get the right result, somewhat similar I’d imagine to how previous generations of parents taught their children how to use reference books.

From New York Times

However, the library of reference books crammed along his window sill - including The Medical Management of Radiation Accidents - reveals this is no ordinary clinic.

From BBC

Rushing to examine the book, Alvarez discovered the watermark on the Morgan letter, which matched documents in the reference book that dated to 1790.

From New York Times

Related Words

• almanac
• dictionary
• directory
• thesaurus