How do I cite Wikipedia in IEEE?

To cite Wikipedia in IEEE (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for Wikipedia in IEEE?

In IEEE, the in-text citation for the example above is [1]

How to Cite Wikipedia in IEEE (standard)

Learn how to cite Wikipedia articles and wiki entries in IEEE format (standard). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

IEEE Reference List Format

Here is the standard IEEE format for citing Wikipedia in your reference list:

[1] "Title of article," Wikipedia. [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_of_article. [Accessed: Mon. Day, Year].

IEEE Example for Wikipedia

A complete IEEE reference for Wikipedia, formatted by the official IEEE CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

[1] “Citation,” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Aug. 02, 2024. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Citation&oldid=1234567890

Matching in-text citation: [1]

IEEE In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

[1]

Narrative

In [1], the entry states...

Key IEEE Formatting Rules

Put the article title in quotation marks and italicize Wikipedia.
Add "[Online]. Available:" followed by the URL.
Give the accessed date in [Accessed: Mon. Day, Year] form.
Number references in order of first appearance.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your Wikipedia.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the IEEE (standard) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match IEEE requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: ieee.csl

Editorial sources

IEEE Reference Guide (PDF) →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite Wikipedia in IEEE?: To cite Wikipedia in IEEE (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the IEEE format for Wikipedia citation?: The IEEE format for Wikipedia is: [1] "Title of article," Wikipedia. [Online]. Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_of_article. [Accessed: Mon. Day, Year].
What does the in-text citation look like for Wikipedia in IEEE?: In IEEE, the in-text citation for the example above is [1]