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

The summaries, overviews, and definitions in general reference works can help you decide whether to pursue a topic further and where to turn next for information.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

While discussing some classic reference works, the polymath Guy Davenport extolled the detail and clarity of the Century’s engraved, thumbnail-sized illustrations.

From Washington Post • Sep. 30, 2020

Ms. Wolfe started digging there and in other archives, and so far has gathered a dozen unknown or forgotten depictions of the arms in heraldic reference works called alphabets and ordinaries.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 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