publ

Publ is a common bibliographic abbreviation used in reference works and library records to indicate publication-related information. It is not a term with a single universal meaning; its exact sense depends on language and style. In some contexts, publ. can denote the publisher; in others it signals publication details such as the publication date or place of publication. Because usage varies by tradition, you may see Publ or publ. used in notes, inline catalog fields, or abbreviated records rather than as part of a formal citation.

In German-language bibliographies and some European cataloging practices, Publ. or Publ. often appears as an abbreviated label for publication data in notes or in legacy records. In English-language systems, explicit fields like Publisher and Publication Date are preferred, and publ. is more commonly found only in older catalogs, in nonstandard formats, or in user-generated indexes.

Examples might look like: Doe, Jane. The Example Book. publ. 2020. Acme Press. or The Example Book. publ. 2020; Acme Press, publisher. These illustrate that publ. serves as a shorthand rather than a fixed element of a citation.

See also: citation styles, bibliographic standards, MARC, ISO 690, library cataloging.