Very often we see that the contents available in Wikipedia are changeable and so is/are the information too. For say, one has referred something from Wikipedia s/he need in his/her write up that already published and after that the contents of the page from where s/he cited has changed or modified. Now the author has neither any chance at all to verify the newly added contents on the same page of Wikipedia nor to modify his/her publication including/excluding anything new. If any careful and sensible reader cross-checks s/he may be in dilemma. In such cases what s/he will do?
Be pragmatic. As a reputable researcher, you should use Wikipedia as a reference. This is especially useful where you e.g., want to give a generally agreed upon, consensus definition, to get the matter out of the way quickly, and not have to do all the Wikipedia work yourself just to arrive at a similar definition. Rather cite Wikipedia than an out-of-date definition from a printed publication.
Sure the contents of Wikipedia will change, and that is why you should always state the date of last access. Beyond that date you are not vouchsafing the content. All you are doing is reporting that on that date, that was the definition which Wikipedia gave, and that you were content with that definition as being adequate. If your reader is interested enough, that reader will go to the Wikipedia entry, and see the original or the refreshed material there. Your job is done efficiently.
No brainer, never cite Wikipedia as a source unless you are trying to demonstrate trends or popular definitions. Else, go to the original source (often to be found in the bibliography of the wikipedia article) and directly quote/cite from there. Your writing will be regarded as more credible this way.
On the issue of credibility of sources, when I put on my hat as a writing teacher, I tell my students upfront that the citation of Wikipedia garners an automatic loss of a grade by half a grade point (A- to B+) on the first instance and whole grade point (A to B etc) in subsequent papers. Of course, if they use or quote Wikipedia without citing at all, then they fail that assignment, because that becomes plagiarism.
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