cross-ref·er·ence
ˈkrȯs-ˈre-fərn(t)s 
-ˈre-f(ə-)rən(t)s
: a notation or direction at one place (as in a book or filing system) to pertinent information at another place
cross-referenced; cross-referencing; cross-references
1
: to supply with cross-references
cross-reference a book
2
: to research, verify, or organize by means of cross-references
cross-reference information
Examples of cross-reference in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Raghu Para, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
But his many descriptions of locations, people and events allowed the research team to cross-reference his account with historical records.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025
The system can then cross-reference availability across multiple, and potentially disparate, EHR systems to coordinate the request.
—David Chou, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Typically, Bubic will study the different pitch grips and cross-reference how his pitching arsenal was performing during the start.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2025
Law enforcement agencies can now cross-reference images with existing databases to quickly identify suspects or locate missing persons.
—Nadeem Khan, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
In light of the document’s complexity and extraordinary length, a team of scholars was assembled to conduct a detailed physical examination and cross-reference names and locations with other historical sources.
—Franz Lidz, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The ability of the government to cross-reference personal information using databases from different agencies is tightly regulated under the US Privacy Act.
—Dell Cameron, Wired News, 21 Apr. 2025
They cross-reference information received directly from employers, financial institutions, and other third parties.
—Quora, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 16 June 2023
The agenda book was more useful, offering a way to cross-reference many of the meetings Villarejo claimed to have had.
—Nicholas Casey, New York Times, 10 June 2023
The idea is that future AI systems will be able to cross-reference this data in the same way that current AI systems do for text inputs.
—James Vincent, The Verge, 9 May 2023
At its lab in The Hague, the commission’s technicians can extract DNA from tiny samples of bone and cross-reference them with samples provided by families of the missing.
—Mike Corder, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2023
The pages of a spam cluster all cross-reference one another, creating the illusion that a lot of people are linking to a site.
—Ariel Bleicher, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Feb. 2011
The DAs could then cross-reference the list with their criminal cases and identify any wrongful convictions.
—oregonlive, 4 Mar. 2023
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Noun
Yet most systems don’t cross-reference temperature, humidity or even which intern was running the test that day.
—Raghu Para, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
But his many descriptions of locations, people and events allowed the research team to cross-reference his account with historical records.
—Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025
The system can then cross-reference availability across multiple, and potentially disparate, EHR systems to coordinate the request.
—David Chou, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Typically, Bubic will study the different pitch grips and cross-reference how his pitching arsenal was performing during the start.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2025
Law enforcement agencies can now cross-reference images with existing databases to quickly identify suspects or locate missing persons.
—Nadeem Khan, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
In light of the document’s complexity and extraordinary length, a team of scholars was assembled to conduct a detailed physical examination and cross-reference names and locations with other historical sources.
—Franz Lidz, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The ability of the government to cross-reference personal information using databases from different agencies is tightly regulated under the US Privacy Act.
—Dell Cameron, Wired News, 21 Apr. 2025
They cross-reference information received directly from employers, financial institutions, and other third parties.
—Quora, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
Even when anonymized, agencies can cross-reference data sets to reveal information about specific individuals.
—Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 16 June 2023
The agenda book was more useful, offering a way to cross-reference many of the meetings Villarejo claimed to have had.
—Nicholas Casey, New York Times, 10 June 2023
The idea is that future AI systems will be able to cross-reference this data in the same way that current AI systems do for text inputs.
—James Vincent, The Verge, 9 May 2023
At its lab in The Hague, the commission’s technicians can extract DNA from tiny samples of bone and cross-reference them with samples provided by families of the missing.
—Mike Corder, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2023
The pages of a spam cluster all cross-reference one another, creating the illusion that a lot of people are linking to a site.
—Ariel Bleicher, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Feb. 2011
The DAs could then cross-reference the list with their criminal cases and identify any wrongful convictions.
—oregonlive, 4 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Cross-reference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-reference. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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