reference works

Cultural  

1. Books and other works that contain useful facts and information, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, and bibliographies.

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Example Sentences

His walls are lined with shelves of well-thumbed books, from his childhood comic collection to reference works on art and anthropology, Victoriana and zoology.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2024

Consult specialized reference works to find relevant articles on all topics.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

Thus, in “Tell Me How You Organize Your Books” he describes his study and the reference works he consults most often, starting with the Oxford Companion to English Literature and the Oxford Classical Dictionary.

From Washington Post • Feb. 17, 2016

In fact, these reference works, with their careful attention to history, literature, and actual usage, are the most adamant debunkers of grammatical nonsense.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

This one at the outset adds to its length—perhaps to its usefulness—by citing other general reference works and a few anthologies.

From Guide to Life and Literature of the Southwest, with a Few Observations by Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank)