MyMemeCards editorial team![[citation needed] meme](/cards/img/citation-needed.webp?v=2)
Watch the ref
Nobody has added this meme's ref yet. Got the original video or post?
In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “[citation needed]” is a rare card of the Memes World series 75, number 22483 of the collection, and the 70th best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “[citation needed]” meme mean?
The meme means dropping those two bracketed words after a statement you find exaggerated, unverifiable or just plain wild. It signals mocking skepticism: you are not proving the claim wrong, only pointing out that nobody has offered evidence. People use it in online arguments, under over-the-top ads, or to tease a friend who sounds far too sure of himself. It also works in reverse as an absurd joke: tagging an obvious statement with the label is funny precisely because it needs no source.
Where does the “[citation needed]” meme come from?
The tag comes from Wikipedia, where it appeared in 2006 as part of the site’s verifiability policy: an editor adds it after a sentence to ask for a reference. It quickly became a symbol of Wikipedia culture. The earliest known use outside the encyclopedia dates to July 2007, when the webcomic xkcd ran “Wikipedian Protestor”, showing a demonstrator holding a “citation needed” sign at a public speech. In early 2008, artist Matt Mechtley launched an ad-jamming project, sticking “citation needed” labels on New York billboards, a practice nicknamed “Wikiffiti” and picked up by several outlets. Forums such as Slashdot, Digg and Something Awful then adopted the phrase to poke fun at baseless claims. Coverage in outlets such as the Boston Globe and Reason helped the stickers reach a wider audience beyond Wikipedia editors.
- February 2006The “citation needed” tag appears on Wikipedia under its verifiability policy.
- July 2007The webcomic xkcd publishes “Wikipedian Protestor”, the first known use outside Wikipedia.
- Early 2008Matt Mechtley puts “citation needed” stickers on New York advertisements (“Wikiffiti”).
How to use the “[citation needed]” meme
- Reply “[citation needed]” to a commenter who throws out a number from nowhere.
- Stick the label on an ad that promises miracle results.
- Add the superscript to an obvious sentence to turn it into a joke.
- Hold up a “citation needed” sign in front of an official claim.
Also searched as
- [citation needed]
- citation needed
- source needed
- Wikiffiti
- citation needed meme
- citation needed meaning
- what does citation needed mean
- citation needed origin
- citation needed wikipedia
- citation needed xkcd
- wikiffiti
The “[citation needed]” card in MyMemeCards
![[citation needed] card](/cards/thumb/citation-needed.webp?v=2)
| Number | No. 22483 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Rare |
| Collection | Memes World series 75 |
| Fame | 70/100 · #70 of 300 |
| Recycle value | 10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny) |
How to get the “[citation needed]” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; [citation needed] comes out of the Memes World series 75 as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “[citation needed]”
More cards of the Memes World series 75
Frequently asked questions
What does “citation needed” mean?
It asks for a source. On Wikipedia, the tag flags a claim that has no reliable reference. Elsewhere on the web, it casts doubt on any statement made without proof.
Where does the “citation needed” meme come from?
It comes from English Wikipedia, where the tag has existed since 2006. It escaped the encyclopedia in 2007 through an xkcd comic, then through the 2008 Wikiffiti stickers.
What is Wikiffiti?
It is a form of ad-jamming started in early 2008 by Matt Mechtley, who placed “citation needed” stickers on street advertising. Several American outlets covered it.
How do you write the tag exactly?
In English, in square brackets and usually in superscript: [citation needed].
How do I get the [citation needed] meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “[citation needed]” is a rare card of the Memes World series 75. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the [citation needed] card?
It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Know Your Meme — [citation needed] · checked on October 18, 2026.
Read next
Want [citation needed] in your collection?
Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.